# Jacob Richard: Richard identifies the Browns' five thinnest position groups and lays out how he expects the depth chart to shake out at quarterback, tight end, defensive line, cornerback and linebacker. **Claimed:** Sep 2, 2026 **Pundit:** Jacob Richard — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/jacob-richard **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/browns/onsi/ranking-the-5-thinnest-position-groups-on-cleveland-browns-2026-roster-01m1hh8hgt02 13 checkable claims — 13 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 14 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 13 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 3 and below it on 10. > The Browns are the thinnest at the most important position in sports. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Mason Graham to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Mason Graham, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jared Verse to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jared Verse, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Quincy Williams to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Quincy Williams, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Shedeur Sanders to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Harold Fannin Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dillon Gabriel to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Maliek Collins to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Maliek Collins, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Isaiah McGuire to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Isaiah McGuire, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Carson Schwesinger to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Denzel Ward to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tyson Campbell to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Tyson Campbell, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Myles Harden to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Myles Harden, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Deshaun Watson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/deshaun-watson - Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/browns - Mason Graham — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/mason-graham - Jared Verse — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jared-verse - Quincy Williams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/quincy-williams - Shedeur Sanders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/shedeur-sanders - Harold Fannin Jr. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/harold-fannin-jr - Dillon Gabriel — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/dillon-gabriel - Maliek Collins — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/maliek-collins - Isaiah McGuire — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/isaiah-mcguire - Carson Schwesinger — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/carson-schwesinger - Denzel Ward — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/denzel-ward - Tyson Campbell — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/tyson-campbell - Myles Harden — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/myles-harden ## What others said about the same people - Mike Florio on Shedeur Sanders: Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cf6258b2-b55f-4f50-84f9-24269a5a006a (scored 0) - Paul Keren on Teven Jenkins: Keren 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/86b36112-724c-4f9c-a4fd-cf74a38be8e4 (scored 0) - Conor Orr on Cleveland Browns: Orr's Week 1 straight-up picks, including several upsets (Patriots, Buccaneers, Browns, Dolphins, Commanders, Broncos). — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/54ae8d21-7621-4c3d-816c-e879aed9b5c2 (scored 0) - Nathan Jahnke on Raheim Sanders: 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.thegoodapps.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Carsen Ryan: An 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/e9e8a675-165c-4246-a19c-eec9f5dfccf4 (scored 100) - Ty Kohler on Easton Mascarenas-Arnold: 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/04651124-a77a-41d5-8598-56d8cb93b7e6 (scored 100) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0) - Ralph Vacchiano on Tua Tagovailoa: Vacchiano 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6f782be9-64d3-47cf-b054-6566e14194d6 (scored 0) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/70a7844a-2fb6-44d7-814f-30ec9fbcc26d (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0653fc24-437c-4aba-89ee-f1f417e1983d (scored 100) - Steven Ruiz on Michael Penix Jr.: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/968b3764-11ef-41b5-a370-ff570b3219d1 (scored 0) - Nathan Jahnke on Jalen Tolbert: 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.thegoodapps.co/opinions/760054fd-7815-4b86-a9e3-bc9bdb0a730b (scored 0) --- 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.thegoodapps.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.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=jacob-richard