Zachary PerelesAug 18, 2026
In a piece naming the hottest seat on all 32 teams, Pereles makes a handful of concrete forecasts: the Cowboys make the playoffs if their defense is merely average, Blake Miller starts at right tackle for the Lions, Jonah Savaiinaea is the Dolphins' starting right guard, and Kyler Murray is Minnesota's starter.
Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original
What Zachary Pereles said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromIf Dallas is middle of the pack -- or really just mediocre -- defensively, it will be a playoff team.
- Where it was published
- CBS Sports
- The piece
- NFL hot seat for all 32 teams, including 13 former first-round picks and one rookie under the most pressure
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart“Kyler Murray winning the Vikings' starting quarterback job wasn't a surprise, but it wasn't the smoothest sailing, either.”
- 2Penei Sewell to be 1st on the depth chart“Miller will slot in at right tackle as Penei Sewell switches to the left side for the Lions.”
- 3Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart“he's already in the hot seat as the presumed starter”
- 4Blake Miller to be 1st on the depth chart“Miller will slot in at right tackle as Penei Sewell switches to the left side for the Lions.”
- 5Jonah Savaiinaea to be 1st on the depth chart“Savaiinaea is the clear starter at right guard, but if he doesn't improve significantly from his rookie season, he might not be there for long.”
- 6Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs“If Dallas is middle of the pack -- or really just mediocre -- defensively, it will be a playoff team.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Penei Sewell to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Blake Miller to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Jonah Savaiinaea to be 1st on the depth chart5 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs6 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| 6 calls · 6 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
6 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls and 1 playoff pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 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
Kyler Murray · 2026 season11 calls from 11 pundits between 1 and 2. Zachary Pereles 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.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Depth Chart CallsKyler MurrayMinnesota Vikings
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsPenei SewellDetroit Lions
Penei Sewell to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsTua TagovailoaAtlanta Falcons
Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsBlake MillerDetroit Lions
Blake Miller to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Depth Chart CallsJonah SavaiinaeaMiami Dolphins
Jonah Savaiinaea to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs
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.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.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.Jacob Herlin · Depth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. They also expect Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.