Donnie Druin· Aug 14, 2026
After the Cardinals' preseason win over the Raiders, Druin identifies risers and fallers on Arizona's depth chart, including Corey Kiner passing Trey Benson for the RB3 spot, Jalen Brooks making the roster over Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Jack Gibbens pushing Cody Simon for a starting inside linebacker job, and Denzel Burke as a favorite to start opposite Will Johnson.
“if Brooks keeps pace like this, he'll end up on the roster.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
9 checkable claims — 8 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 9 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 1.
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Who this take is about
9 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Roster Spot CallsJalen BrooksArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Jalen Brooks to make the roster
“The Cardinals will have some tough conversations in regards to the WR room, but if Brooks keeps pace like this, he'll end up on the roster.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- ARI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Jalen Brooks
- 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
- Depth Chart CallsJack GibbensArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Jack Gibbens to be 1st on the depth chart
“Gibbens tallied four tackles in his short stint on the field and has now put himself back into those starting conversations.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJon Gaines IIArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Jon Gaines II to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Gaines is the second-team center, though now his versatility to play along any of the three inside OL spots sees him shoot up to a replacement for any of Arizona's three starters in the interior.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBJ OjulariArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
BJ Ojulari to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Ojulari's inability to again make an impact further drops him below camp standout Eku Leota.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsCorey KinerArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Corey Kiner to be 3rd on the depth chart
“With Bam Knight firmly in the RB4 spot, Kiner seems to be surpassing the injured Trey Benson for the spot — ... for the spot below.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsEku LeotaArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Eku Leota to be 1st on the depth chart
“further drops him below camp standout Eku Leota”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBam KnightArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Bam Knight to be 4th on the depth chart
“With Bam Knight firmly in the RB4 spot”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDenzel BurkeArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Denzel Burke to be 1st on the depth chart
“He's very much in the mix to start opposite of Will Johnson and could be considered a favorite.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKarson ShararArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Karson Sharar to be a starter
“He might have just surpassed Owen Pappoe on the ILB depth chart.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Devin DuvernayHit · 100PFF's preseason usage recap makes a number of depth-chart and roster projections, including nine rookie receivers slotting as top-three options on their teams, sleeper tight end usage, and specific depth-chart placements for Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens players.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Devin DuvernayHit · 100An 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.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Devin DuvernayHit · 100PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Bam KnightHit · 100PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Reggie VirgilHit · 100PFF's preseason recap projects Xavier Legette as the clear No. 3 receiver in Carolina after Chris Brazzell II's season-ending injury, doubts Jimmy Horn Jr. makes the 53-man roster, expects Ja'Tavion Sanders' role to shrink (with Mitchell Evans ahead of him), and sees Bam Knight as a candidate for Arizona's RB3 job.
- Greg JenningsGame Outcome Picks · Arizona CardinalsMiss · 0Jennings put the Cardinals up as his upset alert over Seattle, backed the Texans over Cincinnati and the Bears over Minnesota with chips, put two chips on Denver beating Jacksonville, and wrote a headline of the Packers beating the Jets; he also called the Bengals a playoff team and the Chiefs winners over Indianapolis.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Jonah ColemanMiss · 0In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.