Tucker Franklin· May 9, 2026
Franklin expects the Chiefs to keep four running backs on the roster — Kenneth Walker, Burchard Smith, Emmit Johnson and Amari DeMarcado — with Jade Nada landing on the practice squad instead.
“they're probably keeping Kenneth Walker and Richard Smith, Andymit Johnson, Andy Marte DiMarco”
said on air, transcribed by us · KC Sports Network (podcast) · read the original →
5 checkable claims — 5 roster spot 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.
3 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 66.7 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
5 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.
Kenneth Walker III to make the roster
“I think they're probably keeping four running backs. Like, they're probably keeping Kenneth Walker and Richard Smith, Andymit Johnson, Andy Marte DiMarco.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- KC
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 4fe6ecb6-064b-42df-8bc3-ea73e65bd65f
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- 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
Brashard Smith to make the roster
“they're probably keeping Kenneth Walker and Richard Smith, Andymit Johnson, Andy Marte DiMarco”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- KC
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 1729c644-96de-49cd-a843-9fd0f6515907
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- 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
Emmett Johnson to make the roster
“they're probably keeping Kenneth Walker and Richard Smith, Andymit Johnson, Andy Marte DiMarco”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- KC
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- e3105233-ed11-45e8-8f35-5262a0ed5bc3
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- 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
Emari Demercado to make the roster
“they're probably keeping Kenneth Walker and Richard Smith, Andymit Johnson, Andy Marte DiMarco”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsKansas City ChiefsMay 9, 2026
Jaydenaught to make the roster
“So, like, Jaydenaught, I think, would be an interesting one, but he's probably, like, a practice squad guy.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsClose · 57Prisco is the lone expert cited picking Kansas City, 20-17 over Denver.
- Mike FlorioScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsClose · 57Florio gives score predictions for every Week 1 game of the 2026 NFL season, including an opening-night upset by the Patriots in Seattle and narrow home wins for the Giants and Chiefs.
- John PluymGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Pluym's Week 1 straight-up picks for all 16 games.
- Matt VerderameGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Verderame's Week 1 straight-up picks for all 16 games.
- Mike KadlickGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Kadlick's Week 1 straight-up picks for all 16 games.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsClose · 57An unsigned CBS Sports Week 1 picks column predicts final scores for all 16 games, including a Seahawks rout of the Patriots in the Super Bowl rematch and a late Chiefs win over Denver in Patrick Mahomes' return.
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.