Eric Crocker· May 5, 2026
Crocker expects rookie receiver Dejean Stribling to open his career as the backup Z behind Ricky Pearsall, competing with Pearsall while also taking slot snaps, and he thinks Enrique Cruz Jr. likely gets cut initially and returns on the practice squad.
“You're a backup z starting off.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Locked On 49ers (podcast) · read the original →
2 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call 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.
1 of 2 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Where this call stands in the room
De'Zhaun Stribling · 2026 season23 calls from 13 pundits between 1 and 4. Eric Crocker said 2. the room's median is 2. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
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Who this take is about
2 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.
Enrique Cruz to make the roster
“Seems like someone who may be let go initially and brought back on practice squad and kinda develop behind the scenes”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- SF
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- Enrique Cruz
- 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:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
De'Zhaun Stribling to be 2nd on the depth chart
“So I think you bring in the guy, you put him hey. You're a backup z starting off. ... I am having him compete with Ricky Pearsall.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Brian PeacockRoster Spot Calls · Sebastian ValdezMiss · 0Peacock lays out his projected 53-man roster for the 49ers, position by position: three specialists, three quarterbacks (including Curtis Rourke), five running backs, six receivers (cutting Christian Kirk), three tight ends (cutting Braden Willis), nine offensive linemen, ten defensive linemen (with Mykel Williams on PUP), five linebackers, six cornerbacks and four safeties. He also predicts a new player will take center snaps in preseason week three.
- Tom JensenRoster Spot Calls · Sebastian ValdezMiss · 0Jensen projects the 49ers' final 53-man roster ahead of the August 30 cutdown, naming a long list of players he expects to be released outright, another group he expects to be cut and return on the practice squad ("boomerang cuts"), and three borderline players (Jordan James, Jacob Cowing, James Thompson Jr.) he believes San Francisco will keep.
- Parker HurleyRoster Spot Calls · Jaden DuggerHit · 100Reviewing 49ers rookies after the first preseason game, Hurley says linebacker Jaden Dugger has secured a spot on the roster after starting at MIKE.
- Grant CohnRoster Spot Calls · Ogbo OkoronkwoMiss · 0Cohn expects Nick Bosa to start and play heavily at defensive end in the season opener against the Rams despite knee tendinitis, with Keion White also starting at defensive end (moving inside to tackle on third down), and predicts the 49ers will call up veteran Ogbo Okoronkwo from the practice squad for the game.
- Parker HurleyRoster Spot Calls · James ThompsonMiss · 0Hurley 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).
- Parker HurleyRoster Spot Calls · Nick BosaHit · 100Hurley says Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams and Romello Height are certain to make the 49ers' roster, while the fourth edge spot remains unsettled.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.
- Bradley LockerDepth Chart Calls · Carson WentzHit · 100PFF's unsigned adjusted power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season place the Bills first, the Rams second and the Dolphins last, with notes on quarterback situations in Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland.