Hondo Carpenter· Aug 5, 2026
Carpenter says Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor and rookie Malik Benson are clearly the Raiders' top three receivers, expects Phillip Dorsett to lose his spot to a younger receiver in the rebuild, and believes UDFAs Chase Roberts, Corey Rucker and EJ Williams have legitimate shots at making the roster. He also predicts QB Jacob Clark develops on the practice squad and that the Raiders will not trade both Aidan O'Connell and Kirk Cousins by midseason.
“Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, and Malik Benson (a rookie from Oregon) are clearly the top three men.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
7 checkable claims — 4 roster spot calls and 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 1.
Where this call stands in the room
Tre Tucker · 2026 season20 calls from 11 pundits between 1 and 2. Hondo Carpenter 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
7 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.
Phillip Dorsett to make the roster
“When you are a rebuilding team, clearly not in the Super Bowl hunt, you take his spot with a younger receiver like EJ Williams or Corey Rucker”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTre TuckerLas Vegas RaidersAug 5, 2026
Tre Tucker to be 1st on the depth chart
“Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, and Malik Benson (a rookie from Oregon) are clearly the top three men.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Corey Rucker to make the roster
“But don't bet against Chase Roberts and Corey Rucker, and keep a close eye on EJ Williams”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Malik Benson to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, and Malik Benson (a rookie from Oregon) are clearly the top three men.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jalen Nailor to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, and Malik Benson (a rookie from Oregon) are clearly the top three men.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jacob Clark to make the roster
“While I do like the Missouri State QB and think he will do well developing on the practice squad”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
E.J. Williams to make the roster
“keep a close eye on EJ Williams; he is Fernando Mendoza's teammate from the Indiana Hoosiers, and I believe both have a legitimate shot at making this team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Fernando Alfaro-DonisTrade and Signing Calls · Kayshon BoutteMiss · 0Argues the Raiders' weakest spot is their receiver room, expects Jalen Nailor to take a big step forward in Klint Kubiak's scheme with Kirk Cousins starting before Fernando Mendoza takes over, and suggests Las Vegas should trade a mid-round pick for Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte, who would immediately become their top option.
- Brandon CarneyTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsMiss · 0Carney drafted a team of rookies he expects to make an immediate fantasy impact (headlined by Karnell Tate and Makai Lemon), predicted landing spots for the remaining big-name free agents, and gave way-too-early division winners, wild cards and award picks — Patriots, Chargers, Bengals, Jaguars, Eagles, Rams, Vikings and Saints as division champs with Joe Burrow as MVP.
- John BreechGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 100Breech picks the Texans to upset the Bills in Houston, trusting Houston's defense to smother Josh Allen, and takes the Raiders to beat the Dolphins by at least a touchdown.
- Judah FortgangGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 100PFF's divisional-round same-game parlay picks: Tampa Bay beats Cincinnati with Cade Otton exploiting the Bengals' linebackers, Las Vegas beats Miami behind Kirk Cousins attacking a depleted Dolphins secondary, and Houston beats Buffalo with C.J. Stroud throwing effectively and Jaylin Noel benefiting from the slot matchup.
- Logan LazarczykGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 100Lazarczyk argues the Raiders' Week 1 home opener against a gutted, tanking Dolphins team should be an easy win, saying Las Vegas has no excuse to lose.
- Dan BeyerGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 100Beyer's Week 1 survivor pick was the Raiders to beat the Dolphins at home.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jack KiserMiss · 0Shipley projects a full 16-player (plus one international/exemption spot) Jaguars practice squad for 2026, naming specific players at each position he expects to land there.
- Cody RourkeRoster Spot Calls · Mitchell FraboniMiss · 0Rourke names the Ravens as the bounce-back team most likely to be dangerous in the AFC again, and says Houston's defense alone should carry the Texans into the postseason. He also expects long snapper Mitchell Fraboni to be one of Denver's practice-squad elevations for the Chiefs game, and slots Pat Bryant as Denver's third receiver behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle.
- Sayre BedingerRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeMiss · 0Benninger expects Houston's elite defense to make them either a division winner or a wild card team, thinks Marvin Mims was trending toward being Denver's fourth receiver rather than just the return man, and figures Adam Prentice will be the Broncos' other practice-squad call-up.
- Bob MorrisRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeHit · 100Morris predicts Jarrett Stidham holds the backup QB job behind Bo Nix, Adam Prentice makes the 53-man roster as the fullback/fourth back, and Lucas Krull gets cut.
- Erick TrickelRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeHit · 100After the Broncos' preseason opener, Trickel argued fullback Adam Prentice has shown enough value to earn a spot on the 53-man roster ahead of the team's fourth running back options (Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Cody Schrader).
- Nick ShookRoster Spot Calls · Aaron DonaldHit · 100Shook unveiled his first NFL power rankings of the year, putting the Rams first, the Broncos second and the defending champion Seahawks only third, with the Dolphins last.