Nick Pedone· Aug 13, 2026
Reading the Browns' first depth chart, Pedone projects Deshaun Watson as the Week 1 starting quarterback, lays out the full projected starting offensive line with Parker Brailsford as backup center, expects KT Leveston to make the roster as guard depth, and names Jeudy, Concepcion, Boston and Bond as roster locks with Tylan Wallace as the fifth receiver.
“Rookie Spencer Fano will start at left tackle with Zion Johnson at left guard, Elgton Jenkins at center and Teven Jenkins at right guard with Tytus Howard at right tackle.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
13 checkable claims — 8 depth chart calls and 5 roster spot 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.
1 of 13 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 7 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 6.
Where this call stands in the room
Spencer Fano · 2026 season8 calls from 6 pundits between 1 and 1. Nick Pedone 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.
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Who this take is about
The game in this take
- Browns at Jaguars 38 calls
13 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.
- Depth Chart CallsDeshaun WatsonCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“The team is getting Watson ready to play Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CLE
- week:
- 1
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Deshaun Watson
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he starts
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- position:
- quarterback
- reported:
- named the starter
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Depth Chart CallsTeven JenkinsCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Teven Jenkins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Teven Jenkins at right guard”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsZion JohnsonCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Zion Johnson to be 1st on the depth chart
“with Zion Johnson at left guard”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsSpencer FanoCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Spencer Fano to be 1st on the depth chart
“Rookie Spencer Fano will start at left tackle”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTylan WallaceCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Tylan Wallace to be 5th on the depth chart
“with Tylan Wallace as a strong fifth receiver that will contribute on special teams”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Parker Brailsford to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Brailsford will be the team’s backup center”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsIsaiah BondCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Isaiah Bond to make the roster
“Considering Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston and Isaiah Bond locks to make this roster”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsElgton JenkinsCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Elgton Jenkins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Elgton Jenkins at center”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsKT LevestonCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
KT Leveston to make the roster
“KT Leveston has a strong chance to make the team as immediate guard depth”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsJerry JeudyCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Jerry Jeudy to make the roster
“Considering Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston and Isaiah Bond locks to make this roster”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTytus HowardCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Tytus Howard to be 1st on the depth chart
“with Tytus Howard at right tackle”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsK.C. ConcepcionCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
K.C. Concepcion to make the roster
“Considering Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston and Isaiah Bond locks to make this roster”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsDenzel BostonCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Denzel Boston to make the roster
“Considering Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston and Isaiah Bond locks to make this roster”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100An 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.
- Ryan WilsonDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100A CBS Sports piece states Deshaun Watson has won Cleveland's starting quarterback job for Week 1 with Shedeur Sanders next in line, while arguing Watson will not play like even an average NFL quarterback and that none of the Browns' current young passers should stop them from drafting a first-round quarterback next April.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano argues the Browns do not have a franchise quarterback and that it's unlikely Watson or Sanders is their long-term answer.
- John BreechDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The unsigned newsletter author says Deshaun Watson will start Week 1 at Jacksonville, notes he voted for Jaxson Dart as his breakout QB rather than Caleb Williams, and says newly signed Daniel Carlson is the favorite to win the Saints' kicking job.
- Mark ChichesterDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Unsigned PFF piece reporting/asserting that Deshaun Watson will be Cleveland's Week 1 starting quarterback against Jacksonville, with Shedeur Sanders behind him on the depth chart.
- Zachary PerelesDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The unsigned recap argues Sanders clearly outplayed Watson and, even if Sanders isn't named the Week 1 starter, predicts both quarterbacks will see significant playing time in 2026.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Malik WillisHit · 100Hribar previews the Week 1 Dolphins-Raiders game, calling Malik Willis a strong floor-based QB2 for fantasy, noting Kirk Cousins is the Raiders' starter and not a Week 1 streamer in 1QB leagues, and listing expected defensive starters for both teams.
- Randy GurziDepth Chart Calls · Jadarian PriceHit · 100Gurzi suggests the Seahawks could sign three free agents — safety Donovan Wilson, guard Kevin Zeitler, and running back Kareem Hunt — if weaknesses show up after Week 1. He also notes Trevon Diggs starting on the practice squad and describes Seattle's projected backfield roles.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Malik WillisHit · 100An 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.
- Warren SharpDepth Chart Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100Sharp argues Raiders rookie No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is not ready to play, predicting he won't start Week 1 or Week 2 and that Kirk Cousins will be the Week 1 starter, with Mendoza sitting behind him for a long stretch.
- Greg AumanDepth Chart Calls · Malik WillisHit · 100Auman states Malik Willis will be Miami's Week 1 starting quarterback and the player the Dolphins build their season around, despite having only six career starts.
- Carter BahnsDepth Chart Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100The newsletter says Shedeur Sanders' preseason Week 2 start may have won him the Browns' starting quarterback job over Deshaun Watson, and that Kirk Cousins will lead the Raiders' offense in Week 1. It also asserts Florida is the best college basketball team heading into 2026-27.