Clarence HillAug 25, 2026
Hill insists James Houston makes the roster as the fifth edge, calls PJ Locke a lock at safety, sees Tommy Dunn as a practice-squad target, and views Caleb Downs as the team's third safety who will play nickel.
Said on air, transcribed by us · DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast)Hear the original
What Clarence Hill said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromPJ Locke is a lock because he knows the system.
- Where it was said
- DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast)
- The episode
- Cowboys Defense 53-Man Roster Projection: Who Actually Makes It?
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 25
- GradedSep 25
- 1James Houston to make the roster“Y'all put James Houston on that team, man. ... I think James Houston makes a team.”
- 2P.J. Locke to make the roster“PJ Locke is a lock because he knows the system. He's a CP guy from Denver. You ain't gotta worry about PJ Locke.”
- 3James Houston to be 5th on the depth chart“I believe James Houston is fifth as well.”
- 4Tommy Dunn to land on the practice squad“target for the practice squad, most likely”
- 5Caleb Downs to be 3rd on the depth chart“I think he's the third safety. Like, he'll be the guy who takes one of their spots”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Houston to make the roster1 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| P.J. Locke to make the roster2 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| James Houston to be 5th on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Tommy Dunn to land on the practice squad4 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Caleb Downs to be 3rd on the depth chart5 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 5 calls · 2 hits · 3 waiting | 100 | 100 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive5 checkable claims — 3 roster spot calls and 2 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Caleb Downs · 2026 season7 calls from 6 pundits between 1 and 3. Clarence Hill said 3. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
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.
1Roster Spot CallsJames HoustonDallas Cowboys
James Houston to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×2difficulty=0skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- DAL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- James Houston
- 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
2Roster Spot CallsP.J. LockeDallas Cowboys
P.J. Locke to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×2difficulty=0skillThink this is wrong?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
3Depth Chart CallsJames HoustonDallas Cowboys
James Houston to be 5th on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Roster Spot CallsTommy DunnDallas Cowboys
Tommy Dunn to land on the practice squad
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Depth Chart CallsCaleb DownsDallas Cowboys
Caleb Downs to be 3rd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- All
The take as a whole
the average of 2 settled calls, each counted once
100naive 100
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Micah Parsons · Miss 0
Eisen expects Myles Garrett to be traded before the draft and says the Browns will then take Abdul Carter with their early first-round pick; they also predict Buffalo will end up paying James Cook and that Micah Parsons will remain a Cowboy and get their money from Dallas, likely late in the process.Randy Gurzi · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Hudson · Miss 0
Gurzi predicts the Cowboys' 17-man practice squad, naming each player they expect Dallas to sign, including a surprise addition of released Giants tackle Evan Neal. They also predict Jaydon Blue will be claimed off waivers by another team and that Sam Williams will land elsewhere.Jeff Cavanaugh · Roster Spot Calls · Marist Liufau · Hit 100
Building their 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.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
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.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
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.Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
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.Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.