Bradley Locker· Aug 26, 2026
Locker lists 10 players on the roster bubble entering 2026, suggesting Tyrone Tracy may not make the Giants' 53, Broderick Jones could be traded or cut by Pittsburgh, Dillon Gabriel may lose the Browns' QB3 job, Evan Neal's Giants tenure may end, and Will Levis will likely be traded or cut by Tennessee.
“Yet it also wouldn’t come as a total shock to see Jones traded or cut by Sunday, as a fresh start seems inevitable for both sides in the next year.”
published in writing · Pro Football Focus · read the original →
6 checkable claims — 3 roster spot calls and 3 trade and signing calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 6 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
6 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.
- Roster Spot CallsTyrone Tracy Jr.New York GiantsAug 26, 2026
Tyrone Tracy Jr. to make the roster
“While Tracy could still make the roster if John Harbaugh elects to retain four running backs, his spot seems tenuous, especially with Devin Singletary (75.0 PFF receiving grade) also shining in August.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- NYG
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- b37e82dd-6eac-486a-8ebb-65c93735d3d9
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsDillon GabrielCleveland BrownsAug 26, 2026
Dillon Gabriel to make the roster
“The former Oregon Duck will get the starting nod in the team’s finale in a game that figures to decide between Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green for the Browns’ QB3 job.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Trade and Signing CallsMazi SmithNew York JetsAug 26, 2026
Mazi Smith to move to New York Jets
“Another franchise could loom for Mazi Smith: The ex-Cowboy might be on the outside looking in as the Jets trim down their roster.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Will Levis to move to Tennessee Titans
“If new head coach Robert Saleh only elects to retain just two quarterbacks, it’s probable that the 27-year-old Levis will find himself with another franchise, with a trade possible given his college profile.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsEvan NealNew York GiantsAug 26, 2026
Evan Neal to make the roster
“New York’s veteran depth on the interior may spell the end of Neal’s unceremonious time with the franchise once and for all.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Broderick Jones to move to Pittsburgh Steelers
“Yet it also wouldn’t come as a total shock to see Jones traded or cut by Sunday, as a fresh start seems inevitable for both sides in the next year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- Paul KerenDepth Chart Calls · Teven JenkinsMiss · 0Keren 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.
- 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.
- Chad MillmanGame Outcome Picks · New York GiantsHit · 100Chad Millman said he had taken money-line positions on several Week 1 underdogs — the Texans outright over the Bills, the Giants outright over Dallas (in a money-line underdog parlay), and Miami outright at Las Vegas — and that the show's survivor pick was the Steelers to win.
- Eric CohenGame Outcome Picks · Tennessee TitansMiss · 0Cohen says the Bears win easily in Carolina, and that Tennessee starts 1-0 over a Jets team he considers the third-worst in the league.
More trade and signing calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Steven RuizTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Ruiz expects the Eagles to trade A.J. Brown once the June 1 dead-cap threshold passes, most likely to New England, and thinks Baker Mayfield will get a Buccaneers extension making him the league's highest-paid quarterback within a month or two. He also argues the Lions may have to let one or two of their 2023 draft class leave, and that Houston should extend C.J. Stroud.
- Diante LeeTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100An unsigned Ringer post-draft power ranking of all 32 teams for the 2026 season, ranked by how much the writer would trust each team to win the Super Bowl, with Denver picked to win the AFC, Detroit projected among the NFC's four best, and win-total calls on Pittsburgh and Miami.
- Scott BogmanTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Bogman laid out fades on Malik Nabers (knee), Kenneth Walker, Bhayshul Tuten, Christian Watson, Jackson Dart and Sam LaPorta, while liking Isaiah Likely and staying more positive on DJ Moore; he also gave his top-seven tight end board and expected Tuten to lead Jacksonville's backfield.
- Brandon CarneyTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Carney 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.
- Jeremy WhiteTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Jeremy White expects the Patriots to acquire AJ Brown, calling the trade likely inevitable within about a month.
- Chris BrockmanTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Brockman predicted only Stafford and Josh Allen of last year's MVP vote-getters get votes again, Fernando Mendoza starts and wins Rookie of the Year, the Colts win the AFC South, AJ Brown is traded to New England leaving DeVonta Smith as Philadelphia's clear No. 1 and a breakout star, five running backs top 1,600 yards, George Pickens breaks a Cowboys receiving record, and Justin Fields starts for Kansas City in September.