Ethan Hurwitz· Aug 9, 2026
Hurwitz projects the Patriots' 2026 defensive tackle depth chart, with Christian Barmore, Milton Williams and Cory Durden as the top three and Leonard Taylor III currently winning the fourth spot.
“But 12 training camp practices in, that spot is looking like Taylor's.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
5 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 5 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.
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Who this take is about
5 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.
Cory Durden to be 3rd on the depth chart
“the top three defensive tackles would be Christian Barmore, Milton Williams and Cory Durden. That much is certain.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Leonard Taylor III to make the roster
“If you had to make the New England Patriots' 53-man roster for 2026 right now ... But 12 training camp practices in, that spot is looking like Taylor's.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Barmore to be 1st on the depth chart
“the top three defensive tackles would be Christian Barmore, Milton Williams and Cory Durden. That much is certain.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Leonard Taylor III to be 4th on the depth chart
“But who'd be the fourth? Right now, the leader in the clubhouse is Leonard Taylor III.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Milton Williams to be 2nd on the depth chart
“the top three defensive tackles would be Christian Barmore, Milton Williams and Cory Durden. That much is certain.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris BroussardGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsHit · 100Brew stood by the Lions as division winners and playoff team, picked the Texans over Cincinnati, the Bears over Minnesota, the Patriots to beat Pittsburgh with a solid Drake Maye game, flagged Jacksonville over Denver as his upset alert, and said he still feels good about the Ravens winning the AFC.
- Rich EisenGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsHit · 100Eisen picked Josh Allen to lead the NFL in total touchdowns over any QB-WR or QB-RB combo, flipped from the Lions to the Bears as NFC North winner, and made several Week 2 game calls, including the Patriots at home, the Jets over Green Bay, and both LA teams winning. He also picked a Jaguars-Broncos AFC title game.
- Connor "Boston Connor" CampbellGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsHit · 100Connor predicted the Patriots would rout the Steelers at home in Week 2, expecting a heavy run game in bad weather.
- Jordan DajaniScore Predictions · New England PatriotsClose · 67Dajani has New England edging Pittsburgh 16-13 and the Rams beating the Giants 30-21 on a late field goal.
- Jonas KnoxGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsHit · 100Knox took the Bears to cover against the Vikings, said New England would probably beat Pittsburgh even while taking the points, picked the Bengals to win outright in Houston, and took the Broncos over the Jaguars and the Rams over the Giants.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · New England PatriotsClose · 76Prisco picks final scores for every Week 2 NFL game, with several teams that lost in Week 1 — the Chargers, Patriots, Cowboys, Packers and Rams — bouncing back, and the Bills outlasting the Lions in a shootout.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.
- Bradley LockerDepth Chart Calls · Carson WentzHit · 100PFF's unsigned adjusted power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season place the Bills first, the Rams second and the Dolphins last, with notes on quarterback situations in Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a Week 1 recap with no named byline, CBS Sports suggested Michael Penix Jr. would take over as Atlanta's Week 2 starter if healthy, called Ashton Jeanty's sophomore breakout imminent, and warned readers not to overlook San Francisco as NFC West winners.