# Donnie Druin: 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. **Claimed:** Aug 14, 2026 **Pundit:** Donnie Druin — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/donnie-druin **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/cardinals/onsi/6-risers-4-fallers-shaking-up-arizona-cardinals-depth-chart-after-las-vegas-raiders-game 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. > if Brooks keeps pace like this, he'll end up on the roster. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Jalen Brooks to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jalen Brooks, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jack Gibbens to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jack Gibbens, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jon Gaines II to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jon Gaines II, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **BJ Ojulari to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: BJ Ojulari, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Corey Kiner to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Corey Kiner, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Eku Leota to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Eku Leota, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Bam Knight to be 4th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Denzel Burke to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Denzel Burke, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Karson Sharar to be a starter** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Karson Sharar, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Jalen Brooks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jalen-brooks - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cardinals - Jack Gibbens — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jack-gibbens - Jon Gaines II — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jon-gaines-ii - BJ Ojulari — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bj-ojulari - Corey Kiner — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/corey-kiner - Eku Leota — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/eku-leota - Bam Knight — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bam-knight - Denzel Burke — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/denzel-burke - Karson Sharar — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/karson-sharar ## What others said about the same people - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8f52d1f8-91ed-459c-99a7-30c2d3fb38e0 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/265cbdba-b0e0-4f80-9665-a4ca5aaec53e (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Bam Knight: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/760054fd-7815-4b86-a9e3-bc9bdb0a730b (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Reggie Virgil: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/04a27c8a-6177-4389-9287-2279e87a6c4a (scored 100) - Greg Jennings on Arizona Cardinals: Jennings 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/420d3e29-6224-43a2-8d68-b15c864838cd (scored 0) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Garrett Podell on Case Keenum: Podell ranks all 32 current NFL starting quarterbacks entering Week 3 of the 2026 season, with Josh Allen first, Patrick Mahomes second and Case Keenum last. He also expects Kyler Murray and Michael Penix Jr. to return to action in Week 3 and Case Keenum to possibly start for the Bears. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0e92b59e-0dd1-43c3-80c1-6551a8b641ac (scored 100) - Fox Sports on Case Keenum: A roundup of NFC injury news expects Jameis Winston to start for the Giants in any games Jaxson Dart misses, and suggests third-stringer Case Keenum could end up starting for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3 with both Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent sidelined. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3aff6d9f-b997-480e-b323-740b6a4677ed (scored 100) - Fox Sports on Case Keenum: With Caleb Williams injured and Tyson Bagent in concussion protocol, third-string quarterback Case Keenum is expected to start for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7726bb2f-b9aa-4c35-aa7b-e0b49990e867 (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Jonah Coleman: In 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2cbd48f6-15ea-4aa5-84bc-bcc50d94d09a (scored 0) - Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100) --- 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=donnie-druin