Tyler Sullivan· Sep 1, 2026
An unsigned CBS Sports preseason review grading all 32 teams, which along the way stakes out a number of depth-chart calls for Week 1 and beyond — including Deshaun Watson opening as Cleveland's starter, Fernando Mendoza taking over as Las Vegas' QB1 by season's end, and Minnesota's Murray-Wentz-McCarthy quarterback order.
“With a little more seasoning, he'll be QB1 by season's end in all likelihood.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
15 checkable claims — 15 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 26 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 14 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 12.
Where this call stands in the room
MarShawn Lloyd · 2026 season10 calls from 8 pundits between 1 and 1. Tyler Sullivan 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
- Eli Heidenreich
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Fernando Carmona
- Tennessee Titans
- Mansoor Delane
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Roschon Johnson
- Chicago Bears
- Jacob Saylors
- Detroit Lions
- Carson Wentz
- Minnesota Vikings
- Deshaun Watson
- Cleveland Browns
- Braxton Jones
- Jake Slaughter
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Jahmyr Gibbs
- J.J. McCarthy
- Malik Willis
- Miami Dolphins
- MarShawn Lloyd
- Green Bay Packers
- Kyler Murray
- Fernando Mendoza
- Las Vegas Raiders
15 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.
Eli Heidenreich to be 3rd on the depth chart
“rookie running back Eli Heidenreich impressed enough to earn the RB3 role behind Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Carmona to be 1st on the depth chart
“Fernando Carmona Jr., a fifth-round pick out of Arkansas, locked in the starting job at right guard with a strong preseason.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Mansoor Delane to be 1st on the depth chart
“Mansoor Delane, the No. 6 overall pick out of LSU, looked primed to slot in as Kansas City's No. 1 corner”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Roschon Johnson to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Roschon Johnson is a quality third option behind D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJacob SaylorsDetroit LionsSep 1, 2026
Jacob Saylors to be 2nd on the depth chart
“leaving them with Jacob Saylors potentially as the RB2 behind Jahmyr Gibbs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Carson Wentz to be 2nd on the depth chart
“O'Connell was also wise to make Carson Wentz the top backup over J.J. McCarthy”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Watson "won" the job, but he hardly looked the part of an NFL starter... Despite all that, he'll be the guy in Week 1”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBraxton JonesChicago BearsSep 1, 2026
Braxton Jones to be 1st on the depth chart
“Braxton Jones appears set to start on the blindside out of the gate”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jake Slaughter to be 1st on the depth chart
“Second-round rookie Jake Slaughter will take over, but there are some questions along the interior of the line.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJahmyr GibbsDetroit LionsSep 1, 2026
Jahmyr Gibbs to be 1st on the depth chart
“leaving them with Jacob Saylors potentially as the RB2 behind Jahmyr Gibbs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
J.J. McCarthy to be 3rd on the depth chart
“(with Murray at the top followed by Wentz and then McCarthy)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMalik WillisMiami DolphinsSep 1, 2026
Malik Willis to be 1st on the depth chart
“a 14-play, 93-yard drive led by incoming starter Malik Willis in Week 1 of the preseason”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
MarShawn Lloyd to be 1st on the depth chart
“That leaves MarShawn Lloyd as the top back, along with Chris Brooks and the recently acquired Kaleb Johnson.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart
“This quarterback room as it's currently constructed (with Murray at the top followed by Wentz and then McCarthy) is the optimal approach.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart
“with a little more seasoning, he'll be QB1 by season's end in all likelihood”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- 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.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF'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.
- Emmett MatasovskyDepth Chart Calls · Christian IzienMiss · 0Matasovsky says Dobbs is currently leading the backup quarterback race and suggests Christian Izien may be pressed into a starting safety role in Week 1 while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph rehab.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's fantasy football preseason recap projects depth-chart outcomes, roster spots and fantasy value for numerous players across several preseason games, including Chig Okonkwo's expanded role in Washington, Ja'Kobi Lane as Baltimore's WR3, Malachi Fields winning the Giants' starting X job, and Zachariah Branch being a fantasy bust relative to his late-round cost.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- 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.
- 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.
- Jared DubinDepth Chart Calls · Daniel FaaleleMiss · 0Dubin grades the Faalele trade, predicting Faalele has a decent chance to be Jacksonville's Week 1 starting right guard in competition with Wyatt Milum, and that Evan Neal's odds of making the Giants' 53-man roster improved while Jon Runyan and Francis Mauigoa hold the Giants' starting guard jobs.
- Noah ComptonDepth Chart Calls · C.J. AllenMiss · 0After watching the Colts' eleventh training camp practice, Compton says rookie linebacker CJ Allen is still expected to start the regular-season opener, identifies Alec Pierce as the team's top receiver and Cam Taylor-Britt as the first cornerback behind the starting trio, and declares the kicking job Blake Grupe's to lose.
- John BreechDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0The unsigned Pick Six newsletter expects Seth McLaughlin to step into the Lions' starting center job with Cade Mays injured, and suggests Tua Tagovailoa is on track to be Atlanta's Week 1 starting quarterback.
- Jeff KerrDepth Chart Calls · Michael CarterMiss · 0Kerr says several Eagles have raised their stock in camp: Darius Cooper is emerging as the team's WR4, Drew Kendall is the No. 3 interior lineman/top backup at guard and center, Willie Lampkin is in prime position to make the 53-man roster, and Michael Carter is a roster lock who could start at safety in Week 1.