# Zach Roberts: Roberts projects the Carolina Panthers' 53-man roster following the Hall of Fame Game, naming every player he expects to make the team at each position, and pegs AJ Dillon as the fourth running back on the depth chart. **Claimed:** Aug 13, 2026 **Pundit:** Zach Roberts — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/zach-roberts **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/panthers/onsi/carolina-panthers-53-man-roster-projection-after-hall-of-fame-game 54 checkable claims — 53 roster spot calls and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 55 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 44 of 54 have settled so far, averaging 95.5 out of 100, against 79.5 for a naive guess at the same calls. > As good as AJ Dillon was in the Hall of Fame Game, he's RB4 as of now since Trevor Etienne plays special teams, and that matters a lot with limited roster spots. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Devin Lloyd to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Devin Lloyd, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Chau Smith-Wade to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Chau Smith-Wade, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Claudin Cherelus to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Claudin Cherelus, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Lee Hunter to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Lee Hunter, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Ja'Tavion Sanders to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Zakee Wheatley to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Zakee Wheatley, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Tre'von Moehrig to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Tre'von Moehrig, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Luke Fortner to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Luke Fortner, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Isaiah Simmons to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Isaiah Simmons, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **John Metchie III to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: John Metchie III, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Nick Scott to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Nick Scott, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Lathan Ransom to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Lathan Ransom, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Bryce Young to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Damien Lewis to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Damien Lewis, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Mitchell Evans to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Mitchell Evans, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jimmy Horn Jr. to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jimmy Horn Jr., Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Kenny Pickett to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Kenny Pickett, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jackson Kuwatch to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jackson Kuwatch, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Jonathon Brooks to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Sam Hecht to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Sam Hecht, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Albert Reese to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Albert Reese, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Cam Jackson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Cam Jackson, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jalen Coker to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Sam Martin to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Sam Martin, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Derrick Brown to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Xavier Legette to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Tetairoa McMillan to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Rasheed Walker to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Rasheed Walker, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Akayleb Evans to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Akayleb Evans, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Mike Jackson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Mike Jackson, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jaelan Phillips to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jaelan Phillips, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Chuba Hubbard to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Will Lee to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Will Lee, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **J.J. Jansen to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: J.J. Jansen, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Princely Umanmielen to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Princely Umanmielen, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Haynes King to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Haynes King, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Tommy Tremble to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Bobby Brown III to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Bobby Brown III, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Robert Hunt to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Robert Hunt, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jaycee Horn to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jaycee Horn, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Stone Forsythe to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Stone Forsythe, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Ryan Fitzgerald to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Ryan Fitzgerald, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Monroe Freeling to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Monroe Freeling, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Brycen Tremayne to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Brycen Tremayne, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Trevor Etienne to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Trevor Etienne, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **AJ Dillon to be 4th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: AJ Dillon, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ja'Seem Reed to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Ja'Seem Reed, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Elijah Garcia to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Elijah Garcia, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **JT Jones to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: JT Jones, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cam Gill to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Cam Gill, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Corey Thornton to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Corey Thornton, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Chandler Zavala to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Chandler Zavala, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brady Christensen to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Brady Christensen, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Trevin Wallace to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Trevin Wallace, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Devin Lloyd — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/devin-lloyd - Carolina Panthers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/panthers - Chau Smith-Wade — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/chau-smith-wade - Claudin Cherelus — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/claudin-cherelus - Lee Hunter — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/lee-hunter - Ja'Tavion Sanders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ja-tavion-sanders - Zakee Wheatley — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/zakee-wheatley - Tre'von Moehrig — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tre-von-moehrig - Luke Fortner — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/luke-fortner - Isaiah Simmons — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/isaiah-simmons - John Metchie III — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/john-metchie-iii - Nick Scott — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/nick-scott - Lathan Ransom — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/lathan-ransom - Bryce Young — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bryce-young - Damien Lewis — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/damien-lewis - Mitchell Evans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/mitchell-evans - Jimmy Horn Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jimmy-horn-jr - Kenny Pickett — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kenny-pickett - Jackson Kuwatch — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jackson-kuwatch - Jonathon Brooks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jonathon-brooks - Sam Hecht — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/sam-hecht - Albert Reese — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/albert-reese - Cam Jackson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/cam-jackson - Jalen Coker — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jalen-coker - Sam Martin — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/sam-martin - Derrick Brown — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/derrick-brown - Xavier Legette — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/xavier-legette - Tetairoa McMillan — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tetairoa-mcmillan - Rasheed Walker — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/rasheed-walker - Akayleb Evans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/akayleb-evans - Mike Jackson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/mike-jackson - Jaelan Phillips — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jaelan-phillips - Chuba Hubbard — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/chuba-hubbard - Will Lee — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/will-lee - J.J. Jansen — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/j-j-jansen - Princely Umanmielen — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/princely-umanmielen - Haynes King — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/haynes-king - Tommy Tremble — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tommy-tremble - Bobby Brown III — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bobby-brown-iii - Robert Hunt — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/robert-hunt - Jaycee Horn — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jaycee-horn - Stone Forsythe — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/stone-forsythe - Ryan Fitzgerald — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ryan-fitzgerald - Monroe Freeling — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/monroe-freeling - Brycen Tremayne — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brycen-tremayne - Trevor Etienne — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/trevor-etienne - AJ Dillon — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/aj-dillon - Ja'Seem Reed — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ja-seem-reed - Elijah Garcia — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/elijah-garcia - JT Jones — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jt-jones - Cam Gill — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/cam-gill - Corey Thornton — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/corey-thornton - Chandler Zavala — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/chandler-zavala - Brady Christensen — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brady-christensen - Trevin Wallace — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/trevin-wallace ## What others said about the same people - Chris Simms on Carolina Panthers: Simms 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/662b7ba3-1bf6-4ad0-9f93-9f2ab83143fd (scored 47.62) - Connor Rogers on Carolina Panthers: Rogers 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/83d1e88b-95a0-45ba-83d3-f86297170c6c (scored 0) - Richard Sherman on Carolina Panthers: Sherman picked winners and several exact scores across the Week 3 slate, favoring Seattle, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Detroit, Green Bay, Carolina, New Orleans, Baltimore, the Rams, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Kansas City, Minnesota, the Giants, Jacksonville and Houston, and named Kenneth Walker his MVP. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c2102f61-711d-4041-af08-065e95ccaf03 (scored 47.62) - Colin Cowherd on Carolina Panthers: The co-host (identified only as "Mitchell") made his own Week 3 picks, including blowout wins for Seattle and San Francisco, Cincinnati 27-17, Detroit 37-13, Denver 24-21 over the Rams, and predicted Jonah Coleman takes over the Broncos' running back role. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4ccbceaa-54ca-4a2e-ad90-006f1ded0ad2 (scored 0) - Tyler Sullivan on Carolina Panthers: Sullivan projects final scores for every Week 3 game, including a Bills blowout of the reeling Chargers, a Chiefs rout in Miami, a Seahawks win over a Mariota-led Washington, and the Saints beating the Raiders in their home opener. He also expects Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart all to be sidelined in Week 3, with Marcus Mariota starting for Washington. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e4b11b44-d359-4027-a72c-87833f5ff6e3 (scored 50) - John Breech on Carolina Panthers: Breech predicts the Dolphins will miss the playoffs and may go winless, and picks every Week 3 game with scores, including Texans over Colts, a Buccaneers upset of Minnesota, Ravens over Cowboys in Brazil, Saints over Raiders and Broncos over Rams. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c21157cd-927c-43dc-98a2-60f4224ba22e (scored 50) ## More roster spot calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Jeff Kerr on Zach Ertz: Kerr expects Zach Ertz to be elevated from the practice squad and play in the Eagles' Week 3 Monday night game against the Bears, and to serve as Philadelphia's clear TE1 with Dallas Goedert out. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7e4fa8de-f88c-4d45-b568-49992a356539 (scored 0) - Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr ranks the Eagles' eight undrafted free agents by their chances of making the initial 53-man roster, with Kapena Gushiken the most likely and predicts at least one UDFA makes the 53. He also forecasts practice squad spots for Zion Wilson, Deontae Lawson and Maximus Pulley, and a release for long snapper Rocco Underwood. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6ec1d507-c7b6-4873-a0a2-76817706e297 (scored 100) - Carter Bahns on Jeshaun Jones: A CBS Sports piece expects suspended Vikings receiver Jeshaun Jones to lose his roster battle and be cut by the Aug. 30 deadline, given Minnesota's established receiver group. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/98c7155f-d05c-43cb-8c03-4f50d43211a8 (scored 0) - Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr's third Eagles 53-man roster projection names the players he expects to make the team at each position, with Cole Payton, Elijah Moore, Johnny Wilson, Gabe Hall and Rocco Underwood left off; he also predicts Underwood is exposed to waivers and returns to the practice squad, Deontae Lawson lands on the practice squad, and Eli Stowers is the TE3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2120c4ea-7113-4ebf-9ebc-0d4a62d83c3a (scored 100) - Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr's updated 53-man roster projection for the Eagles after eight training camp practices, naming which players make the team at each position plus depth-chart placements like Wicks as WR2, Mundt as TE2, Kendall as third guard, Bell as third tackle, and Epps/Carter battling to start at safety. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/328a952b-d6b4-4065-aac9-0029421fb50f (scored 100) - Ralph Ventre on Christian Benford: Ventre expects Christian Benford's toe injury to sideline him for at least the Week 4 game against New England, and believes the Bills will have to add a cornerback to the 53-man roster this week — likely by moving Benford to injured reserve — with practice squad rookie Kani Walker the most likely player elevated. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/94b844fe-bb22-4517-81f5-6263eb0213f1 (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=zach-roberts