Tyler Sullivan#27 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 30, 2026
In a rookie quarterback report card following the 2026 preseason, CBS Sports projects Fernando Mendoza opening the year as Kirk Cousins' backup in Las Vegas, Luke Altmyer settling as the Lions' third quarterback behind Joshua Dobbs, and Jack Strand most likely landing on Atlanta's practice squad rather than the 53-man roster.
Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original
What Tyler Sullivan said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromMendoza will begin his rookie season as the backup to Kirk Cousins
- Where it was published
- CBS Sports
- The piece
- 2026 NFL preseason Week 3 rookie QB grades: Ravens undrafted signal caller shines
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 29
- GradedSep 25
- 1Jack Strand to land on the practice squad“Most likely, Atlanta will try to sneak him onto its practice squad unless more significant moves occur at the QB position that free up a spot.”
- 2Fernando Mendoza to be 2nd on the depth chart“Mendoza will begin his rookie season as the backup to Kirk Cousins, and it comes after a preseason in which he showed there's still room for him to develop before rising to the top of the depth chart.”
- 3Luke Altmyer to be 3rd on the depth chart“but then gave way to Dobbs, who had a more polished day with 128 yards and two passing touchdowns. That might have clinched his fate as QB3.”
- 4Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart“Mendoza will begin his rookie season as the backup to Kirk Cousins”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Strand to land on the practice squad1 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 0 | 100 | −200 | |
| Fernando Mendoza to be 2nd on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Luke Altmyer to be 3rd on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 1 miss · 3 waiting | 0 | 100 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naiveworse than naive4 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 4 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 2.
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
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season50 calls from 40 pundits between 1 and 3. Tyler Sullivan said 2. 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 CallsJack StrandAtlanta Falcons
Jack Strand to land on the practice squad
What happened3 weeks on a 530Miss · naive 1000this call−100a naive guess=−100worse than naive×2difficulty=−200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- ATL
- skill:
- −200
- player:
- Jack Strand
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he lands on the practice squad
- 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:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
2Depth Chart CallsFernando MendozaLas Vegas Raiders
Fernando Mendoza to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsLuke AltmyerDetroit Lions
Luke Altmyer to be 3rd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsKirk CousinsLas Vegas Raiders
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.Tom Pelissero · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Pelissero laid out the Giants' quarterback situation with Jameis Winston starting, said Jayden Daniels likely won't be back when Washington plays the Giants and that Caleb Williams is unlikely to play Monday night, and floated Joey Porter Jr. landing in Dallas and Kirk Cousins being traded in-season.Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be taken No. 1 overall by the Raiders and to be thrown into the starting lineup immediately, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta within weeks.Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be the No. 1 overall pick and land with the Raiders, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.