Dharya SharmaAug 12, 2026
Previewing the Titans' preseason opener, Sharma identifies five receivers as roster locks, expects Bryce Oliver to make the 53 on special teams value, and predicts Will Levis will not be on Tennessee's roster by September, likely being moved for a late-round pick.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Dharya Sharma said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromThe 2023 second-round pick likely won't be on the roster by September, but what Levis can do in the preseason, starting Thursday, is audition for his next team.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- 4 Titans Players With the Most to Gain in Preseason Opener Against 49ers
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 12
- GradedSep 25
- 1Wan'Dale Robinson to make the roster“With Tennessee already having at least five roster locks at receiver in Carnell Tate, Wan'Dale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor, and Chimere Dike”
- 2Chimere Dike to make the roster“With Tennessee already having at least five roster locks at receiver in Carnell Tate, Wan'Dale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor, and Chimere Dike”
- 3Calvin Ridley to make the roster“With Tennessee already having at least five roster locks at receiver in Carnell Tate, Wan'Dale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor, and Chimere Dike”
- 4Carnell Tate to make the roster“With Tennessee already having at least five roster locks at receiver in Carnell Tate, Wan'Dale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor, and Chimere Dike”
- 5Elic Ayomanor to make the roster“With Tennessee already having at least five roster locks at receiver in Carnell Tate, Wan'Dale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor, and Chimere Dike”
- 6Will Levis to move to Tennessee Titans“The 2023 second-round pick likely won't be on the roster by September... A team that wants to upgrade its backup quarterback situation or add a developmental signal-caller could take a flier on Levis and give the Titans a late-round pick in return.”
- 7Bryce Oliver to make the roster“Bryce Oliver will also likely make the roster due to his special teams ability.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wan'Dale Robinson to make the roster1 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Chimere Dike to make the roster2 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Calvin Ridley to make the roster3 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Carnell Tate to make the roster4 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 0 | +200 | |
| Elic Ayomanor to make the roster5 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Will Levis to move to Tennessee Titans6 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Bryce Oliver to make the roster7 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 7 calls · 5 hits · 2 waiting | 100 | 80 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive7 checkable claims — 6 roster spot calls and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
5 of 7 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 80 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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.
1Roster Spot CallsWan'Dale RobinsonTennessee Titans
Wan'Dale Robinson 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:
- TEN
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Wan'Dale Robinson
- 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 CallsChimere DikeTennessee Titans
Chimere Dike 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:
- TEN
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Chimere Dike
- 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
3Roster Spot CallsCalvin RidleyTennessee Titans
Calvin Ridley 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:
- TEN
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Calvin Ridley
- 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
4Roster Spot CallsCarnell TateTennessee Titans
Carnell Tate 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:
- TEN
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Carnell Tate
- 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 CallsElic AyomanorTennessee Titans
Elic Ayomanor 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:
- TEN
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Elic Ayomanor
- 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
6Trade and Signing CallsWill LevisTennessee Titans
Will Levis to move to Tennessee Titans
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
7Roster Spot CallsBryce OliverTennessee Titans
Bryce Oliver to make the roster
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- All
The take as a whole
the average of 5 settled calls, each counted once
100naive 80
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Lane Mills · Game Outcome Picks · Tennessee Titans · Miss 0
Mills predicts the Titans finish 2026 at 6-11 (2-4 in the AFC South), missing the playoffs, with specific wins over the Jets, Giants, Browns, Jaguars, Raiders and Colts, and names Wan'Dale Robinson team MVP with another 1,000-yard, seven-touchdown season as Cam Ward's top receiver.Nathan Jahnke · Roster Spot Calls · K.J. Osborn · Hit 100
An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.Gennaro Filice · Score Predictions · Tennessee Titans · Hit 88
The lone NFL.com pick for Tennessee, projecting a low-scoring 14-13 Titans upset built on their defensive front containing Jonathan Taylor.Dan Graziano · Game Outcome Picks · Tennessee Titans · Hit 100
The lone ESPN pick for Tennessee, taking the Titans to beat the Colts.Tyler Sullivan · Game Outcome Picks · Tennessee Titans · Hit 100
Sullivan says it would not surprise them if the Titans beat the Colts for their first win of the season, arguing the line is too big in the divisional matchup.
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.