Ryan Wilson· Aug 10, 2026
An unsigned CBS Sports analysis argues Jaxson Dart is the best bet among 2025 rookie quarterbacks to make a Year 2 leap, projecting roughly 4,050 yards, 31 TDs and 12 INTs, with Tyler Shough also poised for a strong second season (about 4,100 yards, 28 TDs, 12 INTs), while Shedeur Sanders is likely to open 2026 as Cleveland's starter.
“If there's one quarterback I'd bet on to make a Year 2 leap, it's Dart.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
7 checkable claims — 6 player season numbers and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 7 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 6 and below it on 1.
Where this call stands in the room
Shedeur Sanders · 2026 season40 calls from 30 pundits between 1 and 3. Ryan Wilson 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.
Their call against the record
passing tdsTheir call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
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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.
- Player Season NumbersJaxson DartNew York GiantsAug 10, 2026
Jaxson Dart to record 26–34 passing tds
“Touchdowns 31 26–34”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsShedeur SandersCleveland BrownsAug 10, 2026
Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart
“Sanders belongs because he could very well open 2026 as Cleveland's starter.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tyler Shough to record 23–31 passing tds
“Touchdowns 28 23–31”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tyler Shough to record 10–15 passing interceptions
“Interceptions 12 10–15”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tyler Shough to record 3,700–4,500 passing yards
“Shough's projected Year 2 range ... Passing yards 4,100 3,700–4,500”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Player Season NumbersJaxson DartNew York GiantsAug 10, 2026
Jaxson Dart to record 3,600–4,500 passing yards
“Dart's projected Year 2 range ... Passing yards 4,050 3,600–4,500”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Player Season NumbersJaxson DartNew York GiantsAug 10, 2026
Jaxson Dart to record 9–15 passing interceptions
“Interceptions 12 9–15”
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.
- 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.
- Mike FlorioDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Florio reads Todd Monken's practice and preseason plans as a hint that Deshaun Watson has already been chosen as Cleveland's Week 1 starting quarterback over Shedeur Sanders.
More player season numbers
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Chris BroussardPlayer Season Numbers · Lamar JacksonMiss · 0Broussard expects Lamar Jackson to play well but not vintage — two touchdown passes and no picks — while Derrick Henry carries the load with over 100 rushing yards. He also takes the Browns to upset the Bengals and believes Myles Garrett gets at least two sacks to break the single-season record.
- Shannon SharpePlayer Season Numbers · T.J. WattMiss · 0On a Bengals-Steelers matchup, Sharpe took the over on several player props: Ja'Marr Chase over 74.5 receiving yards, Joe Flacco over 36.5 pass attempts, and T.J. Watt over 3.5 tackles+assists, adding that Watt will get two sacks. He also predicted Rico Dowdle would make the Pro Bowl this season.
- Rich EisenPlayer Season Numbers · Micah ParsonsClose · 56Eisen made a series of picks: Micah Parsons will out-sack any two Cowboys combined (after initially leaning the other way), the NFC North is more likely to produce a Super Bowl team than the NFC East, Eagles wins will outnumber Cowboys losses, Bo Nix/Courtland Sutton will out-touchdown Cam Ward/Calvin Ridley, and Marvin Harrison Jr./James Conner will beat Kamara/Olave in yards and TDs. He also picked the AFC West order and said Deion Sanders is more likely than Bill Belichick to have a winning record.
- Daniel JeremiahPlayer Season Numbers · Nick EmmanworiMiss · 0Jeremiah walked through his mock draft 3.0, slotting Cam Ward first overall to Tennessee, Abdul Carter to Cleveland at two, Shedeur Sanders to the Giants at three and Travis Hunter to New England at four, plus roughly twenty other first-round pairings. He also called Matthew Golden the first receiver off the board, said Tyler Booker would climb back into the latter third of the first round, expected Kirk Cousins to be traded, thought Jaire Alexander's Packers days were numbered, and predicted Cam Robinson would start at left tackle in Houston.
- Joe MarinoPlayer Season Numbers · Kyle PittsClose · 67Marino argued Kyle Pitts deserves more respect after a good season and expects his touchdown total to keep rising, landing on six touchdowns next season (following the pattern of his yearly totals).
- Tim HasselbeckPlayer Season Numbers · Isaiah LikelyMiss · 0Hasselbeck expects Kyler Murray to be released by Arizona, believes Malik Willis will sign somewhere as the anointed opening-day starter, and thinks Isaiah Likely can be a true No. 1 tight end who would catch over 75 passes with close to seven touchdowns as a full-season starter.