# John Maakaron: Maakaron suggests several Lions players could be cut and land on other rosters: linebacker Joe Bachie, defensive linemen Ben Stille and Chris Smith, and running back Sione Vaki. **Claimed:** Aug 26, 2026 **Pundit:** John Maakaron — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/john-maakaron **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/detroit-lions-expect-to-cut-players-who-will-help-other-nfl-teams 4 checkable claims — 4 trade and signing calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 1 of 4 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls. > A few players that could find landing spots elsewhere include lineback Joe Bachie, defensive lineman Ben Stille, defensive lineman Chris Smith and running back Sione Vaki. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Joe Bachie to move to Detroit Lions** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Joe Bachie, Detroit Lions - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Ben Stille to move to Detroit Lions** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Ben Stille, Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **Chris Smith to move to Detroit Lions** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Chris Smith, Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **Sione Vaki to move to Detroit Lions** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Sione Vaki, Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Joe Bachie — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/joe-bachie - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/lions - Ben Stille — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/ben-stille - Chris Smith — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/chris-smith - Sione Vaki — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/sione-vaki ## What others said about the same people - Steve Mensch on Caleb Lomu: Making the even-numbered picks in the mock, he sent Arvell Reese to the Jets at No. 2, Spencer Fano to the Giants at 5, Jordan Tyson to the Saints at 8, a Tennessee cornerback to Miami at 11, Keldric Faulk to Baltimore at 14, Akheem Mesidor to Dallas at 20, Kenyon Sadiq to Philadelphia at 23, Caleb Banks to Buffalo at 26, Ty Simpson to the Rams at 29 and Chris Johnson to Seattle at 32, plus Caleb Lomu to Detroit at 17. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f65851f3-1c53-4ae9-80ef-875db5ce2a3f (scored 62.09) - Chris Rose on Chase Young: Hosting a mock free-agency draft, Rose predicted destinations for Nick Bolton, Carlton Davis, Russell Wilson, Malcolm Koonce, Stefon Diggs, Byron Murphy, Chase Young and Jacoby Brissett, plus Justin Fields returning to Pittsburgh, Ronnie Stanley leaving Baltimore, and the Browns trading up to No. 1 to take Cam Ward. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/854e8838-2328-4092-997e-8ad4ee22995d (scored 0) - Richard Sherman on Detroit Lions: Sherman picks the Chiefs to beat the Bills in the AFC Championship Game despite Buffalo's turnover dominance, and picks the Commanders to upset the Eagles in Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Game. He also expects Saquon Barkley to win Offensive Player of the Year, though he hedges that voters may give it to Lamar or Josh Allen. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/fd0cf59d-3729-4865-8641-02792d0b6b24 (scored 100) - Tyler Sullivan on Detroit Lions: A CBS Sports column flags five Week 2 favorites on upset alert, effectively backing the underdogs — Lions at Bills, Bengals at Texans, Jets over Packers, Jaguars at Broncos and Saints at Ravens — to pull off wins. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0ee2daf0-868b-4ffd-a252-f478174d97f6 (scored 0) - Tony Fusco on Detroit Lions: In his satirical Week 2 NFL predictions, Tony Fusco called exact final scores in five games: Lions over Bills, Panthers over Falcons, Bears over Vikings, Patriots over Steelers, and Eagles over Titans. He also predicted Atlanta would trick Tua into missing the game entirely. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/84c5d696-88f5-4b4d-9990-706a1698baa5 (scored 0) - Colin Cowherd on Detroit Lions: The co-host (identified only as "Mitchell") gave his own Week 2 picks: Seattle, the Niners in dominant fashion, his Lions over Buffalo, Cincinnati 31-27 at Houston, Chicago, Pittsburgh 24-21 as a road upset, Jacksonville by at least a touchdown, Dallas 26-22, and Kansas City handily. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5e7a2965-bd9c-4c78-81b8-cb9ff18f6520 (scored 0) ## More trade and signing calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Devon Platana on Johnny Hekker: With punter Brett Thorson dealing with a hamstring injury, Platana suggests the Vikings have a decent chance of bringing back veteran free-agent punter Johnny Hekker as a familiar fill-in. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/eafcb668-aa60-42b1-8d77-ebdd33d0c2af (scored 100) - Greg Auman on Will Levis: Auman predicts that Will Levis, released by Tennessee, will almost certainly be claimed on waivers by another team. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/55b7732a-4131-430b-adbf-a33c60c47dc0 (scored 100) - Bradley Locker on Will Levis: 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/538fc657-f762-4d98-84e1-b03c4bc14469 (scored 100) - Dharya Sharma on Will Levis: Previewing the Titans' preseason opener, Sharma identifies five receivers as roster locks, expects Bryce Oliver to make the 53 on special teams value, and predicts Will Levis will not be on Tennessee's roster by September, likely being moved for a late-round pick. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f60a6ef5-4d69-4548-ad17-906bf8bfb384 (scored 100) - Jonathan Jones on Will Levis: Jones expects Anthony Richardson to be traded, likely for roughly a fifth-round pick, and to serve as a backup rather than a starter in 2026. He also lays out a series of quarterback-market predictions: Aaron Rodgers back with the Steelers, Tua off the Dolphins roster, Daniel Jones ultimately staying as the Colts' starter, Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders competing for Cleveland's QB1 job, Will Levis most likely of the veteran backups to be traded, and Kirk Cousins possibly landing in Arizona. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5d2883c2-4e98-45b0-8745-8bc2d87f8eb6 (scored 100) - Brandon Carney on Mike Evans: Carney predicted AJ Brown would not be back with the Eagles, forecast a wave of free-agent landing spots (Breece Hall to the Chiefs, Alec Pierce to the 49ers, Rico Dowdle to the Saints, George Pickens to the Patriots, Mike Evans to the Bills), and named Week 1 starting quarterbacks for several teams in flux. He also gave fantasy takes on Javonte Williams, Chris Olave and others. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9337347d-fde9-46c9-9bb6-26ade467538b (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=john-maakaron