Alex KayAug 12, 2026
Kay names five undrafted rookies they expect to make rosters and contribute in 2026, projecting Kahlil Benson as a Chiefs roster lock and possible Week 1 right tackle starter, Khalil Jacobs as a Patriots backup linebacker, Will Pauling as the 49ers' sixth receiver, Collin Wright as Houston's fourth cornerback, and Taurean York as a Broncos roster survivor.
Published in writingRead the original
What Alex Kay said
He's not only jumped out as a lock to make the final roster, but a potential Week 1 starter at right tackle due to his consistent presence with the first team during practice.
- The piece
- 5 Undrafted Rookies Pushing for Roster Spots at NFL Training Camp
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 12
- GradedSep 25
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster Spot Calls | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |
| All | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
How each call scored
14 checkable claims — 10 depth chart calls and 4 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 16 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 14 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
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
Kahlil Benson · 2026 season6 calls from 6 pundits between 1 and 1. Alex Kay said 1. 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.
Roster Spot Calls1 hit · 3 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Kahlil Benson to make the roster
“He's not only jumped out as a lock to make the final roster, but a potential Week 1 starter at right tackle due to his consistent presence with the first team during practice.”
3 weeks on a 53100Hit100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- KC
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Kahlil Benson
- 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
Collin Wright — “spot on his hometown team's final roster”
“Wright, a Houston native, has done enough to warrant a spot on his hometown team's final roster.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Taurean York to make the roster
“If York continues to show out within this deep linebacking corps, he'll sneak onto Denver's roster with a chance to be far more than a special teamer down the line.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Khalil Jacobs — “lock down a backup role”
“Jacobs should lock down a backup role alongside Chad Muma”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Depth Chart Calls10 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Kamari Lassiter to be 1st on the depth chart
“Players such as Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter and Jalen Pitre are not in danger of losing their jobs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Alex Singleton to be 1st on the depth chart
“He's not going to challenge starters Alex Singleton or Justin Strnad for their jobs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Collin Wright to be 4th on the depth chart
“Pencil him in as the fourth cornerback if he doesn't fall off a cliff in the final few weeks of camp.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Will Pauling to be 6th on the depth chart
“Pauling could strengthen his case to make the roster as a sixth receiver and return option, potentially putting Cowing's spot in jeopardy.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Elliss to be 1st on the depth chart
“behind starters Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Derek Stingley Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart
“Players such as Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter and Jalen Pitre are not in danger of losing their jobs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Robert Spillane to be 1st on the depth chart
“behind starters Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kahlil Benson to be 1st on the depth chart
“a potential Week 1 starter at right tackle due to his consistent presence with the first team during practice”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Justin Strnad to be 1st on the depth chart
“He's not going to challenge starters Alex Singleton or Justin Strnad for their jobs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Khalil Jacobs to be 2nd on the depth chart
“As long as he can avoid a slump over the final weeks of camp, Jacobs should lock down a backup role alongside Chad Muma behind starters Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Kahlil Benson, Kansas City Chiefs, Collin Wright, Houston Texans, Kamari Lassiter, Alex Singleton, Denver Broncos, Taurean York, Will Pauling, San Francisco 49ers, Christian Elliss, New England Patriots, Derek Stingley Jr., Robert Spillane, Khalil Jacobs, Justin Strnad
Others on the same people
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.Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.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.Gilberto Manzano · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks.
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.