Alain Poupart#33 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 28, 2026
Previewing the Dolphins' preseason finale and roster cutdown, Poupart states Malik Willis is locked in as the starting quarterback, Mark Gronowski is effectively gone, and identifies Greg Dulcich and Will Kacmarek as the only certainties at tight end while treating several receivers as settled roster locks.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Alain Poupart said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromMalik Willis is the unquestioned starter; Cam Miller is a long shot; and Mark Gronowski is as good as gone.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- The Biggest Dolphins Roster Question at Every Position
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 28
- GradedSep 25
- 1Jalen Tolbert to make the roster“along with veterans Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert”
- 2Caleb Douglas to make the roster“In terms of who'll make the 53, sure, there's some intrigue beyong rookies Caleb Douglas, Kevin Coleman Jr. and Bell if he's healthy, along with veterans Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert”
- 3Kevin Coleman to make the roster“there's some intrigue beyong rookies Caleb Douglas, Kevin Coleman Jr. and Bell if he's healthy, along with veterans Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert”
- 4Will Kacmarek to make the roster“The only certainty at this position would seem to be Greg Dulcich and rookie third-round pick Will Kacmarek”
- 5Malik Washington to make the roster“along with veterans Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert”
- 6Greg Dulcich to make the roster“The only certainty at this position would seem to be Greg Dulcich and rookie third-round pick Will Kacmarek”
- 7Mark Gronowski to be cut“Mark Gronowski is as good as gone. Those are the issues that are settled.”
- 8Malik Willis to be 1st on the depth chart“Malik Willis is the unquestioned starter; Cam Miller is a long shot; and Mark Gronowski is as good as gone.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Tolbert to make the roster1 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Caleb Douglas to make the roster2 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 0 | +200 | |
| Kevin Coleman to make the roster3 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 0 | +200 | |
| Will Kacmarek to make the roster4 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 0 | +200 | |
| Malik Washington to make the roster5 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Greg Dulcich to make the roster6 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Mark Gronowski to be cut7 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Malik Willis to be 1st on the depth chart8 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 8 calls · 6 hits · 2 waiting | 100 | 50 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive8 checkable claims — 7 roster spot calls and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
6 of 8 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
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
Malik Willis · 2026 season24 calls from 18 pundits between 1 and 1. Alain Poupart 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.
1Roster Spot CallsJalen TolbertMiami Dolphins
Jalen Tolbert to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×2difficulty=0skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- MIA
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Jalen Tolbert
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- 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
2Roster Spot CallsCaleb DouglasMiami Dolphins
Caleb Douglas to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×2difficulty=+200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- MIA
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Caleb Douglas
- 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
3Roster Spot CallsKevin ColemanMiami Dolphins
Kevin Coleman to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×2difficulty=+200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- MIA
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Kevin Coleman
- 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
4Roster Spot CallsWill KacmarekMiami Dolphins
Will Kacmarek to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×2difficulty=+200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- MIA
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Will Kacmarek
- 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
5Roster Spot CallsMalik WashingtonMiami Dolphins
Malik Washington to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×2difficulty=0skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- MIA
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Malik Washington
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- 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
6Roster Spot CallsGreg DulcichMiami Dolphins
Greg Dulcich to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×2difficulty=0skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- MIA
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Greg Dulcich
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- 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
7Roster Spot CallsMark GronowskiMiami Dolphins
Mark Gronowski to be cut
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
8Depth Chart CallsMalik WillisMiami Dolphins
Malik Willis to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- All
The take as a whole
the average of 6 settled calls, each counted once
100naive 50
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Nick Brinkerhoff · Score Predictions · Miami Dolphins · Hit 100
Predicts a 23-20 Dolphins win over the Jets.Mike Kadlick · Game Outcome Picks · Miami Dolphins · Hit 100
Picks the Dolphins to beat the Jets.Jourdan Rodrigue · Game Outcome Picks · Miami Dolphins · Hit 100
Roderick picked the Vikings to smash the Colts, the Dolphins to win their first game of the season against the Jets, and the Saints to upset the Steelers in Paris.Kyle "Gump" Cathcart · Game Outcome Picks · Miami Dolphins · Hit 100
Gumpy predicted the Miami Dolphins would get a big win over the Jets on Sunday.Carter Bahns · Game Outcome Picks · Miami Dolphins · Hit 100
Bahns argues the Dolphins, already 0-3 and now without De'Von Achane for the season, are among the least talented rosters ever and face a brutal schedule, identifying five road/home dates (at the Jets, at the Colts, vs. the Jets, at the Packers, vs. the Chargers) as their most winnable games while doubting they can even approach their projected win total.Seth Rollins · Game Outcome Picks · Miami Dolphins · Hit 100
Guest host Seth Rollins named the Miami Dolphins their No. 1 sleeper team, saying they'll outperform expectations, finish ahead of the Jets and at least third in the AFC East, but won't win the division. They also predicted Myles Garrett will break their own single-season sack record given the Rams' elite offense.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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.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.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.