Rafael ZamoranoAug 16, 2026
After the Browns' 34-10 preseason loss to the Bears, Zamorano projected Cleveland's depth chart at each position for the eventual 53-man roster, with Deshaun Watson favored to start Week 1 and rookies like KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston high on the receiver ladder.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Rafael Zamorano said
Probably, no movement here at the top, with a sense Watson is being favored by the coaching staff to start Week 1
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Updated Cleveland Browns' 53-Man Roster Projection After Preseason Opener
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 16
- PlayedSep 13
- GradedSep 18–25
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster Spot Calls | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Depth Chart Calls | 1 | 0 | 0 | 46 | |
| All | 6 | 0 | 0 | 46 |
How each call scored
52 checkable claims — 47 depth chart calls and 5 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 53 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
6 of 52 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 28 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 12 and below it on 16.
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
Shedeur Sanders · 2026 season62 calls from 41 pundits between 1 and 3. Rafael Zamorano said 2. 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 Calls5 hitsShow ▸Hide ▾
Rex Sunahara to make the roster
“Special Teams: Andre Szmyt, Corey Bojorquez, Rex Sunahara. No real changes here.”
3 weeks on a 53100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- CLE
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Rex Sunahara
- 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
Corey Bojorquez to make the roster
“Special Teams: Andre Szmyt, Corey Bojorquez, Rex Sunahara. No real changes here.”
3 weeks on a 53100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- CLE
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Corey Bojorquez
- 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
Andre Szmyt to make the roster
“Special Teams: Andre Szmyt, Corey Bojorquez, Rex Sunahara. No real changes here.”
3 weeks on a 53100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- CLE
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Andre Szmyt
- 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
Parker Brailsford to make the roster
“Offensive line: ... KT Leveston, Austin Barber, Parker Brailsfield”
3 weeks on a 53100Hit100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- CLE
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Parker Brailsford
- 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
Austin Barber to make the roster
“Offensive line: ... KT Leveston, Austin Barber, Parker Brailsfield”
3 weeks on a 53100Hit100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- CLE
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Austin Barber
- 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 Calls1 hit · 46 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Quarterbacks: Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Taylen Green ... a sense Watson is being favored by the coaching staff to start Week 1”
100Hit100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- CLE
- week:
- 1
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Deshaun Watson
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he starts
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- position:
- quarterback
- reported:
- named the starter
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Julian Okwara to be 5th on the depth chart
“Defensive line: Jared Verse, Mason Graham, Maliek Collins, Alex Wright, Julian Okwara, Mike Hall Jr., Kalia Davis, Khordae Sydnor, Spencer Fano, Adin Huntington”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Quinshon Judkins to be 1st on the depth chart
“it looks like the order is set at the top with Judkins followed by Sampson”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tylan Wallace to be 6th on the depth chart
“Wide receivers: Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Isaiah Bond, Luke Floriea, Tylan Wallace, Gage Larvadain”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Adin Huntington to be 10th on the depth chart
“Defensive line: ... Khordae Sydnor, Spencer Fano, Adin Huntington”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Myles Harden to be 6th on the depth chart
“Defensive backs: ... Myles Harden, Christopher Edmonds, D'Angelo Ross, Michael Coates Jr.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Carson Schwesinger to be 1st on the depth chart
“Linebackers: Carson Schwesinger, Quincy Williams, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Justin Jefferson, Winston Reid”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Carsen Ryan to be 4th on the depth chart
“Tight ends: Harold Fannin Jr., Blake Whiteheart, Jack Stoll, Carsen Ryan”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Khordae Sydnor to be 8th on the depth chart
“Defensive line: ... Khordae Sydnor, Spencer Fano, Adin Huntington”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Linebackers: Carson Schwesinger, Quincy Williams, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Justin Jefferson, Winston Reid”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Quincy Williams to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Linebackers: Carson Schwesinger, Quincy Williams, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Justin Jefferson, Winston Reid”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Raheim Sanders to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Running backs: Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson, Raheim Sanders”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ronnie Hickman Jr. to be 4th on the depth chart
“Defensive backs: Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Myles Harden, Christopher Edmonds, D'Angelo Ross, Michael Coates Jr.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Dawand Jones to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Dawand Jones and KT Leveston look like the top backups for now”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Spencer Fano to be 1st on the depth chart
“Offensive line: Tytus Howard, Spencer Fano, Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins, Teven Jenkins ... Starting five looks set for now”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to be 5th on the depth chart
“Defensive backs: Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Myles Harden, Christopher Edmonds, D'Angelo Ross, Michael Coates Jr.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Zion Johnson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Offensive line: Tytus Howard, Spencer Fano, Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins, Teven Jenkins ... Starting five looks set for now”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jack Stoll to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Tight ends: Harold Fannin Jr., Blake Whiteheart, Jack Stoll, Carsen Ryan”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Michael Coats to be 9th on the depth chart
“Defensive backs: ... D'Angelo Ross, Michael Coates Jr.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Mason Graham to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Defensive line: Jared Verse, Mason Graham, Maliek Collins, Alex Wright, Julian Okwara, Mike Hall Jr., Kalia Davis, Khordae Sydnor, Spencer Fano, Adin Huntington”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Gage Larvadain to be 7th on the depth chart
“Wide receivers: Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Isaiah Bond, Luke Floriea, Tylan Wallace, Gage Larvadain”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Blake Whiteheart to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Fannin is secure at the top, and he'll possibly be followed by Blakeheart, who got a lot of reps in Chicago today”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jared Verse to be 1st on the depth chart
“Defensive line: Jared Verse, Mason Graham, Maliek Collins, Alex Wright, Julian Okwara, Mike Hall Jr., Kalia Davis, Khordae Sydnor, Spencer Fano, Adin Huntington”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
D'Angelo Ross to be 8th on the depth chart
“Defensive backs: ... Myles Harden, Christopher Edmonds, D'Angelo Ross, Michael Coates Jr.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Mike Hall Jr. to be 6th on the depth chart
“Defensive line: Jared Verse, Mason Graham, Maliek Collins, Alex Wright, Julian Okwara, Mike Hall Jr., Kalia Davis, Khordae Sydnor, Spencer Fano, Adin Huntington”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jerry Jeudy to be 1st on the depth chart
“Wide receivers: Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Isaiah Bond, Luke Floriea, Tylan Wallace, Gage Larvadain”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
K.C. Concepcion to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Wide receivers: Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Isaiah Bond, Luke Floriea, Tylan Wallace, Gage Larvadain”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Dylan Sampson to be 2nd on the depth chart
“it looks like the order is set at the top with Judkins followed by Sampson”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Isaiah Bond to be 4th on the depth chart
“Wide receivers: Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Isaiah Bond, Luke Floriea, Tylan Wallace, Gage Larvadain”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Elgton Jenkins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Starting five looks set for now, with Elgton Jenkins handling the center”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tyson Campbell to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Defensive backs: Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Myles Harden, Christopher Edmonds, D'Angelo Ross, Michael Coates Jr.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Grant Delpit to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Defensive backs: Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Myles Harden, Christopher Edmonds, D'Angelo Ross, Michael Coates Jr.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Denzel Ward to be 1st on the depth chart
“Defensive backs: Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Myles Harden, Christopher Edmonds, D'Angelo Ross, Michael Coates Jr.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Justin Jefferson to be 4th on the depth chart
“Linebackers: Carson Schwesinger, Quincy Williams, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Justin Jefferson, Winston Reid”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kalia Davis to be 7th on the depth chart
“Defensive line: Jared Verse, Mason Graham, Maliek Collins, Alex Wright, Julian Okwara, Mike Hall Jr., Kalia Davis, Khordae Sydnor, Spencer Fano, Adin Huntington”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Taylen Green to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Quarterbacks: Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Taylen Green”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Denzel Boston to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Wide receivers: Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Isaiah Bond, Luke Floriea, Tylan Wallace, Gage Larvadain”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Winston Reid to be 5th on the depth chart
“Linebackers: Carson Schwesinger, Quincy Williams, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Justin Jefferson, Winston Reid”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Shedeur Sanders to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Quarterbacks: Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Taylen Green”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Chris Edmonds to be 7th on the depth chart
“Defensive backs: ... Myles Harden, Christopher Edmonds, D'Angelo Ross, Michael Coates Jr.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Teven Jenkins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Starting five looks set for now, with Elgton Jenkins handling the center and Teven Jenkins at right guard”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Harold Fannin Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart
“Fannin is secure at the top, and he'll possibly be followed by Blakeheart”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Maliek Collins to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Defensive line: Jared Verse, Mason Graham, Maliek Collins, Alex Wright, Julian Okwara, Mike Hall Jr., Kalia Davis, Khordae Sydnor, Spencer Fano, Adin Huntington”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tytus Howard to be 1st on the depth chart
“Offensive line: Tytus Howard, Spencer Fano, Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins, Teven Jenkins ... Starting five looks set for now”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Alex Wright to be 4th on the depth chart
“Defensive line: Jared Verse, Mason Graham, Maliek Collins, Alex Wright, Julian Okwara, Mike Hall Jr., Kalia Davis, Khordae Sydnor, Spencer Fano, Adin Huntington”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
KT Leveston to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Dawand Jones and KT Leveston look like the top backups for now”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Luke Floriea to be 5th on the depth chart
“Wide receivers: Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Isaiah Bond, Luke Floriea, Tylan Wallace, Gage Larvadain”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
The game in this take
every pundit’s pick on eachWho this take is about
Rex Sunahara, Cleveland Browns, Corey Bojorquez, Andre Szmyt, Parker Brailsford, Austin Barber, Deshaun Watson, Julian Okwara, Quinshon Judkins, Tylan Wallace, Adin Huntington, Myles Harden, Carson Schwesinger, Carsen Ryan, Khordae Sydnor, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Quincy Williams, Raheim Sanders, Ronnie Hickman Jr., Dawand Jones, Spencer Fano, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Zion Johnson, Jack Stoll, Michael Coats, Mason Graham, Gage Larvadain, Blake Whiteheart, Jared Verse, D'Angelo Ross, Mike Hall Jr., Jerry Jeudy, K.C. Concepcion, Dylan Sampson, Isaiah Bond, Elgton Jenkins, Tyson Campbell, Grant Delpit, Denzel Ward, Justin Jefferson, Kalia Davis, Taylen Green, Denzel Boston, Winston Reid, Shedeur Sanders, Chris Edmonds, Teven Jenkins, Harold Fannin Jr., Maliek Collins, Tytus Howard, Alex Wright, KT Leveston, Luke Floriea
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