# Doug Joubert: Joubert says Tyler Shough is unquestionably the Saints' starting quarterback, with the competition only for the backup job, and describes Devaughn Vele as the team's No. 3 receiver. He also expects New Orleans to keep six wide receivers on the initial 53-man roster.

**Claimed:** Aug 21, 2026
**Pundit:** Doug Joubert — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/doug-joubert
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/onsi/rams-saints-preseason-insider-preview

3 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 1.

> However, there is no question that Shough is the starting QB.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **? to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: New Orleans Saints
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Tyler Shough to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Devaughn Vele to be 3rd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Devaughn Vele, New Orleans Saints
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/saints
- Tyler Shough — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/tyler-shough
- Devaughn Vele — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/devaughn-vele

## What others said about the same people

- Ross Jackson on Spencer Rattler: Ross Jackson gives his final preseason 53-man roster projection for the New Orleans Saints, naming who makes the initial roster at every position group, who starts on injured reserve or the practice squad, and who the five starting offensive linemen and kicker will be. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b43691e9-1673-4236-ba12-7d60ad3b95f5 (scored 100)
- Ross Jackson on Chris Rumph II: Ross Jackson lays out his early defensive 53-man roster projection for the 2026 Saints, naming five edge rushers, four interior defensive linemen, five cornerbacks, five linebackers and five safeties, plus his kicker, punter and long snapper, and sends Mike Heldman, Chris Rumph and Jackson Sirmon to the practice squad. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/43240125-25d4-4060-bbc1-fa62fe5cd6d9 (scored 0)
- Ross Jackson on Asim Richards: Ross Jackson projects the New Orleans Saints' offensive 53-man roster: three quarterbacks with Tyler Shough starting and Spencer Rattler as the backup, four running backs including Alvin Kamara, six wide receivers with Jalen Polk making it, three tight ends, ten offensive linemen with a set starting five, and Charlie Smith at kicker. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5f4d7215-b47b-478d-8a8e-3199f34273ef (scored 100)
- Ross Jackson on Jayden Price: Jackson expects Jordan Tyson to top 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie without reaching 1,500, sees Cesar 'Torricelli' Simpkins holding the backup center job, projects Kaden Ellis at weak-side linebacker contributing to the pass rush, and names Jaden Price as his dark horse to make the 53-man roster. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d05a1fe7-a37e-4a38-bdb8-7ce4c2eee64d (scored 100)
- Ross Jackson on Devaughn Vele: Ross Jackson agreed to the same Saints mock draft board — Jeremiah Love at eight, Akeem Mesador in the second, Keonte Scott at 73, Keelan Rutledge and Ted Hurst in the fourth, Xavien Harris at 148, Aaron Anderson in the fifth and Bryce Boettcher in the sixth — and also called Devon Vellet a 2026 breakout candidate. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b4c58f9f-23b8-4857-8505-17c213d3a342 (scored 0)
- Mike Harmon on Kevin Austin Jr.: Harmon gave his Week 18 fantasy rankings — top five quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers — plus lists of 'hot plays,' 'cold sores' (players to avoid) and 'ninjas' (sneaky plays), and said Trevor Lawrence would land around a top-four fantasy quarterback finish for the season. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/e2e20c82-d482-48e6-90f3-929d0862fc0d (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)

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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

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