Albert Breer· Aug 17, 2026
After his 19th trip to Steelers camp, Breer sketched out Pittsburgh's emerging depth chart: Allar sticks as the third-string QB, Bernard is the No. 4 receiver, the left line trio is locked in, Cook and Anderson hold the right side until rookie Iheanachor is ready to start this year, and Ramsey mans the star/nickel spot. He also flagged Derrick Harmon for a breakout second season and German edge Julius Welschof as a sleeper.
“And if you want a sleeper to file away, German import Julius Welschof has turned heads with his size, strength and length on the edge.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
11 checkable claims — 8 depth chart calls, 2 sleeper calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 12 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 3.
Where this call stands in the room
Max Iheanachor · 2026 season4 calls from 4 pundits between 1 and 1. Albert Breer 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
11 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.
- Sleeper CallsJulius WelschofPittsburgh SteelersAug 17, 2026
Julius Welschof to outplay his draft cost
“And if you want a sleeper to file away, German import Julius Welschof has turned heads with his size, strength and length on the edge.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Germie Bernard to be 4th on the depth chart
“And rookie second-rounder Germie Bernard would be the fourth guy behind those three if the season started today”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Spencer Anderson to be 1st on the depth chart
“At right guard, Spencer Anderson has done a good job. He's smart and can be at least a stopgap until rookie Gennings Dunker, who's starting to ascend, is ready.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTroy FautanuPittsburgh SteelersAug 17, 2026
Troy Fautanu to be 1st on the depth chart
“The left side of the offensive line is set, with Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick and Zach Frazier comprising a smart, tough and physical trio.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Mason McCormick to be 1st on the depth chart
“The left side of the offensive line is set, with Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick and Zach Frazier comprising a smart, tough and physical trio.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Max Iheanachor to be 1st on the depth chart
“there's an expectation that he'll be ready to start at some point this year, but he has to prove he can stay on the field first”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsDerrick HarmonPittsburgh SteelersAug 17, 2026
Derrick Harmon to outplay his draft cost
“Former first-rounder Derrick Harmon's talent has stood out, as has his coachability, where a breakout second season is on the table”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDylan CookPittsburgh SteelersAug 17, 2026
Dylan Cook to be 1st on the depth chart
“And at right tackle, Dylan Cook is the guy for now”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJalen RamseyPittsburgh SteelersAug 17, 2026
Jalen Ramsey to be 1st on the depth chart
“a veteran secondary should give Graham options, with Jalen Ramsey, who will play the star (or nickel) spot”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsDrew AllarPittsburgh SteelersAug 17, 2026
Drew Allar to make the roster
“For now, as a third-round pick, he has a roster spot.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsZach FrazierPittsburgh SteelersAug 17, 2026
Zach Frazier to be 1st on the depth chart
“The left side of the offensive line is set, with Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick and Zach Frazier comprising a smart, tough and physical trio.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Jason McIntyreTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldMiss · 0Filling in for Colin Cowherd, McIntyre argued the 49ers' window is closed amid a brutal injury list and record travel, floated a Bijan Robinson trade to the Bears, predicted the Lions can win the NFC North, doubted Atlanta is even a playoff team, said Baker Mayfield's Tampa run ends after this season, and delivered a top-10 quarterback ranking.
- Evan SilvaFantasy Defense Calls · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100In his 2020 fantasy defense/special teams rankings, Silva puts the Steelers first, the 49ers second and the Ravens third, citing pass rush, favorable early schedules and game scripts.
- Jordan DajaniGame Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100Dajani expects the Steelers to comfortably beat the Falcons in Week 1, arguing Atlanta's quarterback situation under Tua Tagovailoa is a mess; he also picks the Vikings to beat the Packers in a low-scoring game.
- Chad MillmanGame Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100Millman backed several week one sides outright: Miami to beat the Raiders straight up, the Jets over the Titans, an underdog money line parlay of Houston and the Giants, and a favorites money line parlay of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit. He also stands by his preseason take that Drake Maye is a top-five NFL quarterback.
- Simon HunterGame Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100Hunter picked Houston and the Giants as underdog money line plays, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit as favorites, and used Pittsburgh plus the Chargers as his survivor picks for week one.
- Danny ParkinsGame Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100Parkins picked the Giants to upset Dallas, the Steelers to beat Atlanta by two scores, the Bears to beat Carolina, the Bills to beat Houston and Denver to beat Kansas City outright; he also said Justin Herbert will win an MVP and had the Bengals as AFC North champs.
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.