Nathan Jahnke· Aug 7, 2026
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.
“Unless Carolina keeps seven wide receivers or injuries create another opening, Horn appears unlikely to make the 53-man roster.”
published in writing · Pro Football Focus · read the original →
8 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls and 3 roster spot calls — 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.
3 of 8 have settled so far, averaging 66.7 out of 100, against 66.7 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 4 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
Jalen Coker · 2026 season12 calls from 11 pundits between 1 and 3. Nathan Jahnke said 2. the room's median is 2. 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
8 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.
Jimmy Horn Jr. to make the roster
“Unless Carolina keeps seven wide receivers or injuries create another opening, Horn appears unlikely to make the 53-man roster.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CAR
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- 7b874c1d-65d6-4891-8cc2-73325195ee87
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he does not make the 53
- accuracy:
- 0
- 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
Reggie Virgil to make the roster
“fifth-round rookie Reggie Virgil is likely to make the roster”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- ARI
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- fcbfa7a8-7e23-4ee7-9d09-3216b80bb17b
- 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
John Metchie III to make the roster
“Metchie has a good chance to make the roster and would be the most likely beneficiary if Coker misses time.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CAR
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 6bf7fcf9-3ef8-4203-a9cc-09498a79d6cf
- 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
Jalen Coker to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Carolina’s top two wide receiver spots are locked in with Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, both of whom sat out tonight.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tetairoa McMillan to be 1st on the depth chart
“Carolina’s top two wide receiver spots are locked in with Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ja'Tavion Sanders to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Sanders fell to third on the Panthers’ unofficial depth chart behind Evans despite playing more than him last season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBam KnightArizona CardinalsAug 7, 2026
Bam Knight to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Knight is currently fifth on the depth chart, but he has a chance to be named RB3 on the depth chart.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Xavier Legette to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Brazzell was expected to compete with Xavier Legette for the No. 3 receiver role, but his injury makes Legette the clear favorite for the job.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Henry McKennaDepth Chart Calls · Carson BeckMiss · 0McKenna predicts Kyler Murray will win the Vikings' starting QB job over J.J. McCarthy, that Minnesota will make the playoffs if Murray cuts out the hero ball, that both QBs will play in 2026, and wonders whether rookie Carson Beck could unseat Jacoby Brissett as Arizona's Week 1 starter.
- AJ HawkGame Outcome Picks · Carolina PanthersMiss · 0AJ 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.
- Brady QuinnGame Outcome Picks · Carolina PanthersMiss · 0In the show's Week 1 picks-against-the-spread segment, Quinn took the Steelers over the Falcons, the Panthers at home over the Bears, the Bengals over the Buccaneers, the Texans at home over the Bills, and the Cowboys on the road over the Giants.
- Tyler SullivanGame Outcome Picks · Carolina PanthersMiss · 0An unsigned CBS Sports piece flags five Week 1 underdogs as upset candidates: the 49ers over the Rams in Melbourne, the Texans over the Bills, the Panthers over the Bears, the Jets over the Titans, and the Broncos over the Chiefs on Monday night.
- John PluymGame Outcome Picks · Carolina PanthersMiss · 0Pluym's Week 1 straight-up picks for all 16 games.
- Zach RobertsRoster Spot Calls · Isaiah SimmonsHit · 100Roberts projects the Carolina Panthers' 53-man roster following the Hall of Fame Game, naming every player he expects to make the team at each position, and pegs AJ Dillon as the fourth running back on the depth chart.
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.