# Alex Clancy: Known on the show as "Clancy," he expects the Cardinals to win more games than last season while still landing a high pick, believes Ty Simpson goes in the first round and Carson Beck no later than the third, and lays out an Arizona backfield in which Tyler Algeier supplants James Conner while Trey Benson survives camp. He also sides with Michael Wilson in the receiver battle. **Claimed:** Mar 21, 2026 **Pundit:** Alex Clancy — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/alex-clancy **Outlet:** Locked On Cardinals (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/locked-on-cardinals-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/21b2e1/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/0831a005-6f5d-4f43-bcfd-48944f8a9575/episodes/a3796e39-6e3a-4ac5-bb7d-fae6cdc27a85/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=0831a005-6f5d-4f43-bcfd-48944f8a9575&awEpisodeId=a3796e39-6e3a-4ac5-bb7d-fae6cdc27a85&feed=SRxnlfNZ 9 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls, 2 mock draft picks, 2 roster spot calls, 2 team draft slot calls and 1 season win total — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 2 of 9 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls. Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one. > But, yeah, no. I still think the Cardinals gonna win more games this year in the past. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Carson Beck to be picked “no later than the third round” (picks 65–100)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Carson Beck - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Ty Simpson to be picked “first round” (picks 1–32)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Ty Simpson - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Arizona Cardinals to pick “top five or top six” (picks 1–5)** - Kind: Team Draft Slot Calls · About: Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Michael Wilson to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **James Conner to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: James Conner, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Arizona Cardinals to pick “top 15” (picks 1–15)** - Kind: Team Draft Slot Calls · About: Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tyler Allgeier to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Tyler Allgeier, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Trey Benson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Arizona Cardinals to finish with ? wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Carson Beck — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/carson-beck - Ty Simpson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/ty-simpson - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cardinals - Michael Wilson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/michael-wilson - James Conner — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/james-conner - Tyler Allgeier — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/tyler-allgeier - Trey Benson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/trey-benson ## What others said about the same people - Henry McKenna on Carson Beck: McKenna predicts Kyler Murray will win the Vikings' starting QB job over J.J. McCarthy, that Minnesota will make the playoffs if Murray cuts out the hero ball, that both QBs will play in 2026, and wonders whether rookie Carson Beck could unseat Jacoby Brissett as Arizona's Week 1 starter. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9025c533-03e6-4e1f-8773-b8ef2f1d46ea (scored 0) - Nathan Jahnke on Reggie Virgil: PFF's preseason usage recap makes a number of depth-chart and roster projections, including nine rookie receivers slotting as top-three options on their teams, sleeper tight end usage, and specific depth-chart placements for Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens players. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8f52d1f8-91ed-459c-99a7-30c2d3fb38e0 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Reggie Virgil: An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Reggie Virgil: PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/265cbdba-b0e0-4f80-9665-a4ca5aaec53e (scored 100) - Donnie Druin on Eku Leota: Previewing the Cardinals' final 2026 preseason game, Druin identifies roster bubble players: he favors Jalen Brooks over Ihmir Smith-Marsette for a sixth receiver spot, expects Oli Udoh to miss out, projects BJ Ojulari to be cut with Eku Leota making the team instead, and names Elijah Jones as the likely cornerback casualty. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5ab6b69b-7514-4c48-9ad4-a6495e981071 (scored 100) - Donnie Druin on Bam Knight: Druin says Bam Knight has effectively locked up the final running back spot on the Cardinals' roster, which contributed to Trey Benson being waived/injured. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0c250de4-e1ba-4d79-8ef4-e9d9bda3a89c (scored 100) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0) - Ralph Vacchiano on Tua Tagovailoa: Vacchiano 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6f782be9-64d3-47cf-b054-6566e14194d6 (scored 0) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/70a7844a-2fb6-44d7-814f-30ec9fbcc26d (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0653fc24-437c-4aba-89ee-f1f417e1983d (scored 100) - Steven Ruiz on Michael Penix Jr.: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/968b3764-11ef-41b5-a370-ff570b3219d1 (scored 0) - Mike Florio on Shedeur Sanders: Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cf6258b2-b55f-4f50-84f9-24269a5a006a (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=alex-clancy