Ty Kohler· Aug 16, 2026
After the Browns' first preseason game, Kohler said rookie Spencer Fano has cemented himself as Cleveland's left tackle, expects Dawand Jones to be a backup this season, and thinks Winston Reid, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Adin Huntington and Julian Okwara will be on the roster.
“He played solid and further cemented that he'll be the blindside protector this season.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
6 checkable claims — 4 roster spot calls and 2 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 6 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 50 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
Spencer Fano · 2026 season10 calls from 6 pundits between 1 and 1. Ty Kohler said 1. the room's median is 1. 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
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.
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold to make the roster
“showed why they both deserve to make the roster as backup linebackers this season”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CLE
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 95db4500-ec27-4794-b641-22450c08cbbe
- 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
- Roster Spot CallsWinston ReidCleveland BrownsAug 16, 2026
Winston Reid to make the roster
“A pair of linebackers also impressed in Winston Reid (32 snaps/50%) and Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (35 snaps/55%). They combined for nine tackles and showed why they both deserve to make the roster as backup linebackers this season.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CLE
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- 41b0ddf0-9ccf-4810-83c0-0e827eb1e152
- 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:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsJulian OkwaraCleveland BrownsAug 16, 2026
Julian Okwara to make the roster
“Both guys made the roster last season, and are expected to be back this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsAdin HuntingtonCleveland BrownsAug 16, 2026
Adin Huntington to make the roster
“Adin Huntington and Julian Okwara both narrowly missed the 50% mark. Both guys made the roster last season, and are expected to be back this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsSpencer FanoCleveland BrownsAug 16, 2026
Spencer Fano to be 1st on the depth chart
“Fano played in 33 snaps (50%) as the coaches wanted every opportunity to see their top rookie play. He played solid and further cemented that he'll be the blindside protector this season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDawand JonesCleveland BrownsAug 16, 2026
Dawand Jones to be 2nd on the depth chart
“With the exception of Jones, who will likely be a backup this season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- Paul KerenDepth Chart Calls · Teven JenkinsMiss · 0Keren says Teven Jenkins still projects as Cleveland's Week 1 starting right guard despite a push from KT Leveston, and that Carson Schwesinger and Quincy Williams will be the Browns' lead linebackers.
- Conor OrrGame Outcome Picks · Cleveland BrownsMiss · 0Orr's Week 1 straight-up picks, including several upsets (Patriots, Buccaneers, Browns, Dolphins, Commanders, Broncos).
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Raheim SandersHit · 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.
- Jacob RichardRoster Spot Calls · Taylen GreenMiss · 0Richard predicts the Browns will keep Deshaun Watson as their starter through the season, that Shedeur Sanders will get a handful of starts, and that Dillon Gabriel is the most likely of the four quarterbacks to be moved off the roster.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Carsen RyanHit · 100An unsigned PFF fantasy preseason recap makes a series of depth-chart and roster-spot calls: Roman Wilson wins the Steelers' third receiver job over Germie Bernard, Robert Tonyan makes Pittsburgh's roster as the third tight end, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III stick in New England, Mike Washington Jr. is the Raiders' primary backup back, Jalen Nailor stays a Raiders starter, Kaelon Black leads the 49ers' backup running back competition, and Charlie Kolar is the Chargers' top tight end with top-12 fantasy upside.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jack KiserMiss · 0Shipley projects a full 16-player (plus one international/exemption spot) Jaguars practice squad for 2026, naming specific players at each position he expects to land there.
- Cody RourkeRoster Spot Calls · Mitchell FraboniMiss · 0Rourke names the Ravens as the bounce-back team most likely to be dangerous in the AFC again, and says Houston's defense alone should carry the Texans into the postseason. He also expects long snapper Mitchell Fraboni to be one of Denver's practice-squad elevations for the Chiefs game, and slots Pat Bryant as Denver's third receiver behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle.
- Sayre BedingerRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeMiss · 0Benninger expects Houston's elite defense to make them either a division winner or a wild card team, thinks Marvin Mims was trending toward being Denver's fourth receiver rather than just the return man, and figures Adam Prentice will be the Broncos' other practice-squad call-up.
- Bob MorrisRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeHit · 100Morris predicts Jarrett Stidham holds the backup QB job behind Bo Nix, Adam Prentice makes the 53-man roster as the fullback/fourth back, and Lucas Krull gets cut.
- Erick TrickelRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeHit · 100After the Broncos' preseason opener, Trickel argued fullback Adam Prentice has shown enough value to earn a spot on the 53-man roster ahead of the team's fourth running back options (Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Cody Schrader).
- Nick ShookRoster Spot Calls · Aaron DonaldHit · 100Shook unveiled his first NFL power rankings of the year, putting the Rams first, the Broncos second and the defending champion Seahawks only third, with the Dolphins last.