Alex Kay· Aug 12, 2026
Kay names five undrafted rookies he expects 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.
“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.”
published in writing · read the original →
14 checkable claims — 10 depth chart calls and 4 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
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.
Where this call stands in the room
Kahlil Benson · 2026 season4 calls from 4 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.
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Who this take is about
14 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Roster Spot CallsKahlil BensonKansas City ChiefsAug 12, 2026
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.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow 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
- Depth Chart CallsKahlil BensonKansas City ChiefsAug 12, 2026
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”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKamari LassiterHouston TexansAug 12, 2026
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”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Khalil Jacobs to make the roster
“Jacobs should lock down a backup role alongside Chad Muma”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsAlex SingletonDenver BroncosAug 12, 2026
Alex Singleton to be 1st on the depth chart
“He's not going to challenge starters Alex Singleton or Justin Strnad for their jobs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJustin StrnadDenver BroncosAug 12, 2026
Justin Strnad to be 1st on the depth chart
“He's not going to challenge starters Alex Singleton or Justin Strnad for their jobs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsTaurean YorkDenver BroncosAug 12, 2026
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.”
Not 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”
Not 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”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsCollin WrightHouston TexansAug 12, 2026
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.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsCollin WrightHouston TexansAug 12, 2026
Collin Wright to make the roster
“Wright, a Houston native, has done enough to warrant a spot on his hometown team's final roster.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsWill PaulingSan Francisco 49ersAug 12, 2026
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.”
Not 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.”
Not 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”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Denver BroncosHit · 100Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets.
- Jake ArthurScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 98Arthur expects a close Chiefs win on Sunday Night Football at Arrowhead, predicting a final score of 27-23 for Kansas City.
- Zach HicksScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 98Hicks predicts a lower-scoring, field-goal-heavy game with the Chiefs beating the Colts 23-19, citing Indianapolis' red-zone success against Kansas City historically.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.
- Bradley LockerDepth Chart Calls · Carson WentzHit · 100PFF's unsigned adjusted power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season place the Bills first, the Rams second and the Dolphins last, with notes on quarterback situations in Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland.