Parker Hurley· Aug 24, 2026
Hurley projects the San Francisco 49ers' 17-man practice squad, naming specific players at each position he expects to land on it (with a few either/or spots).
“Ogbo Okoronkwo is a great PS option.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
14 checkable claims — 14 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 15 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
3 of 14 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
14 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.
Ogbo Okoronkwo to make the roster
“Ogbo Okoronkwo is a great PS option.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- SF
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- Ogbo Okoronkwo
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he lands on the practice squad
- accuracy:
- 0
- 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
James Thompson to make the roster
“Practice Squad Projection ... James Thompson”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- SF
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- ae678a3d-e4c2-415b-920a-595064d8c5d3
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he lands on the practice squad
- accuracy:
- 0
- 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
Brandon Parker to make the roster
“So, this spot should go to Brandon Parker, who has run with the second team in the preseason.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- SF
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- 445f3bc9-8315-4eaa-a16e-ce6793f802a1
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he lands on the practice squad
- accuracy:
- 0
- 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 CallsHayden RucciSan Francisco 49ersAug 24, 2026
Hayden Rucci to make the roster
“Hayden Rucci or Brayden Willis are locks if they do not make the 53-man roster.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jalen Stroman to make the roster
“Rookie UDFA Jalen Stroman seems like the smart choice over veteran Ashtyn Davis.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsBryson EasonSan Francisco 49ersAug 24, 2026
Bryson Eason to make the roster
“Practice Squad Projection ... Bryson Eason”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Khalil Dinkins to make the roster
“The question is whether Josiah Deguara or freshly signed Khalil Dinkins makes it as well.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jakob Robinson to make the roster
“Jakob Robinson is a great PS option.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Adrian Martinez to make the roster
“Unless they find a better option, Martinez will be their PS candidate.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsWill PaulingSan Francisco 49ersAug 24, 2026
Will Pauling to make the roster
“Will Pauling appears to be ahead of Wesley Grimes as the top UDFA on the roster.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsNick ZakeljSan Francisco 49ersAug 24, 2026
Nick Zakelj to make the roster
“Long-standing practice squad candidate Nick Zakelj is in the mix at guard.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Darrell Luter Jr. to make the roster
“As long as Darell Luter does not get calls from other teams, he should be a PS player.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Sincere McCormick to make the roster
“Sincere McCormick has been the best running back among all of their depth options.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Isaac Alarcon to make the roster
“Isaac Alarcon makes it as a 17th player due to an international exemption.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Mike TannenbaumTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsMiss · 0Tannenbaum argues the Chiefs should lean on the run game early while Mahomes recovers, says the Bills haven't done enough at receiver and would repeat their playoff shortcoming, expects AJ Brown to have a massive impact in New England, thinks George Pickens will earn a big raise, and offers free-agent fits: Deebo Samuel to Buffalo, Joey Bosa to Tampa Bay, Taylor Decker to Houston, and Stefon Diggs to San Francisco.
- Evan SilvaFantasy Defense Calls · San Francisco 49ersMiss · 0In 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.
- John MiddlekauffGame Outcome Picks · San Francisco 49ersHit · 100Previewing the NFL's Australia game in Week 1, Middlekauff picks the underdog 49ers to beat the Rams, arguing San Francisco's long acclimation trip and Kyle Shanahan's edge over Sean McVay make them a live dog.
- Tyler SullivanGame Outcome Picks · San Francisco 49ersHit · 100An unsigned CBS Sports piece flags five Week 1 underdogs as upset candidates: the 49ers over the Rams in Melbourne, the Texans over the Bills, the Panthers over the Bears, the Jets over the Titans, and the Broncos over the Chiefs on Monday night.
- Richard ShermanScore Predictions · San Francisco 49ersClose · 60Sherman picked Seattle to beat New England 28-17 in the opener, ran through score picks for the rest of the week one slate (49ers, Cowboys, Bills, Bears, Vikings, Colts, Broncos), said the Seahawks would also beat the Cardinals, Commanders and Chargers, backed Dallas to win its division, and predicted Christian Gonzalez's deal would come in barely above Devon Witherspoon's.
- Eva GeitheimGame Outcome Picks · San Francisco 49ersHit · 100Geitheim's Week 1 straight-up picks for all 16 games.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jack KiserMiss · 0Shipley projects a full 16-player (plus one international/exemption spot) Jaguars practice squad for 2026, naming specific players at each position he expects to land there.
- Cody RourkeRoster Spot Calls · Mitchell FraboniMiss · 0Rourke names the Ravens as the bounce-back team most likely to be dangerous in the AFC again, and says Houston's defense alone should carry the Texans into the postseason. He also expects long snapper Mitchell Fraboni to be one of Denver's practice-squad elevations for the Chiefs game, and slots Pat Bryant as Denver's third receiver behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle.
- Sayre BedingerRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeMiss · 0Benninger expects Houston's elite defense to make them either a division winner or a wild card team, thinks Marvin Mims was trending toward being Denver's fourth receiver rather than just the return man, and figures Adam Prentice will be the Broncos' other practice-squad call-up.
- Bob MorrisRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeHit · 100Morris predicts Jarrett Stidham holds the backup QB job behind Bo Nix, Adam Prentice makes the 53-man roster as the fullback/fourth back, and Lucas Krull gets cut.
- Erick TrickelRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeHit · 100After the Broncos' preseason opener, Trickel argued fullback Adam Prentice has shown enough value to earn a spot on the 53-man roster ahead of the team's fourth running back options (Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Cody Schrader).
- Nick ShookRoster Spot Calls · Aaron DonaldHit · 100Shook unveiled his first NFL power rankings of the year, putting the Rams first, the Broncos second and the defending champion Seahawks only third, with the Dolphins last.