Josh Reed· Aug 18, 2026
After the Ravens' preseason opener win over Philadelphia, Reed argues rookie Ja'Kobi Lane has locked up the No. 3 receiver job, Jovaughn Gwyn is now the frontrunner at starting center, Durham Smythe remains the No. 2 tight end ahead of rookie Matt Hibner, Keyon Martin has all but secured a roster spot as the primary backup slot corner, and Carson Vinson is the favorite to be the swing tackle.
“Lane all but cemented himself as the winner of the Ravens' No. 3 receiver competition”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
6 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 6 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 below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Ja'Kobi Lane · 2026 season17 calls from 11 pundits between 1 and 3. Josh Reed said 3. the room's median is 3. 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.
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Who this take is about
6 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 CallsKeyon MartinBaltimore RavensAug 18, 2026
Keyon Martin to make the roster
“At this rate, he's making it nearly impossible for the Ravens to consider exposing him to waivers at final cutdown time.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- BAL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 2b9ae035-0cc8-4347-84d8-21c27dd9b3e6
- 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:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Depth Chart CallsJovaughn GwynBaltimore RavensAug 18, 2026
Jovaughn Gwyn to be 1st on the depth chart
“he is now firmly a legitimate contender, if not the outright frontrunner, to win the starting center job following his outstanding performance”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKeyon MartinBaltimore RavensAug 18, 2026
Keyon Martin to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Martin is in a competition with fifth-round rookie Chandler Rivers for the primary backup slot corner role and held off the first-year pro until the fourth quarter.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsCarson VinsonBaltimore RavensAug 18, 2026
Carson Vinson to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Even after the team's recent signing of veteran David Sharpe to provide some experienced depth at the position, Vinson remains the favorite to serve as the Ravens' swing tackle for this upcoming season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDurham SmytheBaltimore RavensAug 18, 2026
Durham Smythe to be 2nd on the depth chart
“While veteran blocking specialist Durham Smythe will still likely be the first man up to join Andrews on the field in the Ravens' 12-personnel packages, expect Hibner to see the field early and often”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJa'Kobi LaneBaltimore RavensAug 18, 2026
Ja'Kobi Lane to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Lane all but cemented himself as the winner of the Ravens' No. 3 receiver competition despite being outproduced on paper by fourth-rounder Elijah Sarratt by the end of the game.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Mason CameronDepth Chart Calls · Ethan PocicMiss · 0An unsigned PFF piece ranks the NFL's top 32 centers heading into the 2026 season, with Creed Humphrey first for the fourth straight year, and names Ethan Pocic and Austin Schlottmann as the favorites to win starting center jobs in Baltimore and Tennessee.
- Evan SilvaFantasy Defense Calls · Baltimore RavensClose · 58In his 2020 fantasy defense/special teams rankings, Silva puts the Steelers first, the 49ers second and the Ravens third, citing pass rush, favorable early schedules and game scripts.
- Jared DubinGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100Dubin is high on the Ravens and low on the Colts, predicting a big Baltimore road win.
- Kirk HerbstreitGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100Herbstreit made a full slate of Week 1 picks — Lions, Ravens, Bears, Bills, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles, Packers and Cowboys — and also said he still thinks Seattle is the team to beat in the NFC West.
- AJ HawkGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100AJ Hawk picked the Ravens over the Colts, Carolina to beat Chicago outright, the Bills at Houston, the Bengals over Tampa Bay, the Titans over the Jets, the Raiders over Miami, the Packers at Minnesota and the Cowboys over the Giants.
- Jordan DajaniScore Predictions · Baltimore RavensClose · 67Dajani picks the Rams over the 49ers, Texans over Bills, Ravens over Colts, Bengals over Buccaneers, Vikings over Packers, Cowboys over Giants and Broncos over Chiefs in Week 1, with exact scores. He also predicts the Bills win the AFC East, the Cowboys win their division, and Caleb Downs wins Defensive Rookie of the Year.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona.
- Ralph VacchianoDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy.
- Steven RuizDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier.
- Mike FlorioDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3.