# Clarence Hill: 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. **Claimed:** Aug 25, 2026 **Pundit:** Clarence Hill — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/clarence-hill **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 5 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. > PJ Locke is a lock because he knows the system. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **James Houston to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: James Houston, 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 - **James Houston to be 5th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: James Houston, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tommy Dunn to land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Tommy Dunn, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Caleb Downs to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - James Houston — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/james-houston - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cowboys - P.J. Locke — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/p-j-locke - Tommy Dunn — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tommy-dunn - Caleb Downs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/caleb-downs ## What others said about the same people - Rich Eisen on Micah Parsons: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c9216871-a4a2-4676-b3d8-2221daa70413 (scored 0) - Randy Gurzi on Jordan Hudson: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a37588ef-f76e-4f06-a951-a85a563271d5 (scored 0) - Jeff Cavanaugh on Marist Liufau: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d20c4eda-eab4-4a8c-ba13-0e120fdd7d91 (scored 100) - Jesse Holley on Marist Liufau: Holley expects Jay Toia to stick on the defensive line, Marist Liufau to make the team as a special teamer, Devin Moore to make the roster, and Joe Milton to be the backup quarterback ahead of Sam Howell. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8ee3ec22-e4c4-4583-826a-c56e4b15f0c5 (scored 100) - Moe Moton on Marist Liufau: Moton rated Liufau a 9-out-of-10 on their trade probability meter, arguing that with Dallas' crowded edge room they are a long shot to make the 53-man roster and is either a trade or cut candidate. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/80fadb15-ba97-4fde-b3a4-25bf2d8c9b9f (scored 0) - Pete Prisco on Dallas Cowboys: Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dc43909b-bc7f-47aa-b208-5cf7c95844bc (scored 76.19) ## More roster spot calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - 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) - Parker Hurley on Khalid Kareem: Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5a729417-69ee-493a-9bec-d905fd1a7082 (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) - 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) - Charean Williams on Odell Beckham Jr.: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d4fd8cfb-3c75-4209-9e1a-d60e821f315b (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=clarence-hill