WaltOct 27, 2026
Grading a batch of NFL trades, Walt makes a handful of forward-looking roster calls: A.J. Brown becomes Drake Maye's No. 1 target in New England, Michael Pittman Jr. slots in as the Steelers' No. 2 receiver behind DK Metcalf, Jaylen Waddle is only a glorified No. 2 in Denver, Kyle McCord starts games for Miami, Tytus Howard upgrades Cleveland's right tackle spot, and Tanner McKee is now more likely to be traded by Philadelphia.
Published in writing · Walter FootballRead the original
What Walt said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromIt wouldn't surprise me at all if he started some games this year.
- Where it was published
- Walter Football
- The piece
- NFL Trade Grades: Colts Acquire DeForest Buckner; Seahawks Trade for Quenton Nelson
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Kyle McCord to be 1st on the depth chart“Getting him for a 2028 sixth-round pick is an absolute steal. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he started some games this year.”
- 2Tytus Howard to be 1st on the depth chart“They had a huge need at both tackle spots, and Howard will be a big upgrade on the right side.”
- 3Michael Pittman to be 2nd on the depth chart“Pittman isn't a great receiver by any means, but he's the perfect No. 2 possession receiver, which is exactly what the Steelers needed. Pittman will be a great Robin to Pittsburgh's Batman (DK Metcalf)”
- 4A.J. Brown to be 1st on the depth chart“He's an elite receiver who will provide Drake Maye with the No. 1 target he's lacked thus far in his career.”
- 5Tanner McKee to move — “traded, possibly to a team like the Jets”“There was some speculation that the Eagles would trade him to a team like the Jets, and now that seems more likely because Dalton can serve as Jalen Hurts' new backup if a deal occurs.”
- 6Jaylen Waddle to be 2nd on the depth chart“Trading first- and third-round selections for a glorified No. 2 receiver is an overpay.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle McCord to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Tytus Howard to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Michael Pittman to be 2nd on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| A.J. Brown to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Tanner McKee to move — “traded, possibly to a team like the Jets”5 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Jaylen Waddle to be 2nd on the depth chart6 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 6 calls · 6 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
6 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 4.
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
Kyle McCord · 2026 season5 calls from 5 pundits between 1 and 1. Walt 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 CallsKyle McCordMiami Dolphins
Kyle McCord to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsTytus HowardCleveland Browns
Tytus Howard to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsMichael PittmanPittsburgh Steelers
Michael Pittman to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsA.J. BrownNew England Patriots
A.J. Brown to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Trade and Signing CallsTanner McKee
Tanner McKee to move — “traded, possibly to a team like the Jets”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
6Depth Chart CallsJaylen WaddleDenver Broncos
Jaylen Waddle to be 2nd 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
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.Bryan DeArdo · Trade and Signing Calls · Joey Porter Jr. · Miss 0
The piece predicts Joey Porter Jr. most likely stays with the Steelers through 2026, while listing possible trade destinations if they were moved.Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Myles Garrett · Hit 100
Discussing Myles Garrett's trade request, Eisen said they expect Garrett to get their way and be moved out of Cleveland rather than stay, which is why staying would be shocking.Pat Fitzmaurice · Score Predictions · New England Patriots · Miss 14
Fitzmaurice predicted a 24-21 Patriots win over the Packers, said they would not be surprised if Jonathan Taylor were inactive amid trade talk, pegged Jonah Coleman as an RB22 rest-of-season value, expected Evan Hull to be Arizona's backup back, and saw Kerby Joseph returning in Week 10 or 11.Kevin Wildes · Game Outcome Picks · New England Patriots · Miss 0
Wildes took Minnesota over Buffalo, predicted a comfortable roughly 10-point New England win over Green Bay, and switched their Super Bowl matchup to Jaguars–Bears.Nick Wright · Game Outcome Picks · New England Patriots · Miss 0
Wright argued the Jaguars are the AFC's most complete team, calling them the considerable favorite for the No. 1 seed and the only club essentially locked into the playoffs. They also picked Tampa Bay to upset Chicago, had Kansas City sweeping its next three games, liked New England over Green Bay by about a field goal, and updated their Super Bowl matchup to Chiefs–49ers.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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.