# Eric Crocker: 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. **Claimed:** May 5, 2026 **Pundit:** Eric Crocker — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/eric-crocker-2 **Outlet:** Locked On 49ers (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/locked-on-49ers-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/f9f75c/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/0a6076b9-74e2-4b01-846e-5cc0d0b8031c/episodes/806c4fec-882c-4cae-91ae-88a3721a3577/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=0a6076b9-74e2-4b01-846e-5cc0d0b8031c&awEpisodeId=806c4fec-882c-4cae-91ae-88a3721a3577&feed=P83yLSb_ 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. > You're a backup z starting off. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Enrique Cruz to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Enrique Cruz, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **De'Zhaun Stribling to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: De'Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Enrique Cruz — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/enrique-cruz - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/49ers - De'Zhaun Stribling — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/de-zhaun-stribling ## What others said about the same people - Brian Peacock on Sebastian Valdez: Peacock 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/62e9aad7-105c-45a0-95b3-3b43b64603ae (scored 0) - Tom Jensen on Sebastian Valdez: Jensen 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/30bfad12-5ff9-49d2-8849-9df9b47a054d (scored 0) - Parker Hurley on Jaden Dugger: Reviewing 49ers rookies after the first preseason game, Hurley says linebacker Jaden Dugger has secured a spot on the roster after starting at MIKE. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/633eccb2-2e55-4252-832c-74f8ad98cbdb (scored 100) - Grant Cohn on Ogbo Okoronkwo: Cohn 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a2029952-7f5b-46c3-8531-0b2eaa516239 (scored 0) - Parker Hurley on James Thompson: 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). — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/67e61dba-ee2d-4c4b-ae3b-f0e9a744cd6c (scored 0) - Parker Hurley on Nick Bosa: Hurley says Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams and Romello Height are certain to make the 49ers' roster, while the fourth edge spot remains unsettled. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/51ad1f3e-8222-402d-93d4-3151b828f3ee (scored 100) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100) - Matt Severance on Deshaun Watson: The 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/944568ce-7205-409f-8354-a392016fd8bf (scored 100) - Rafael Zamorano on Deshaun Watson: Zamorano 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d7d7e0a2-61e0-4525-970b-b01a2356f11b (scored 100) - Rich Hribar on Tua Tagovailoa: Hribar 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/124ac755-a942-4382-8bad-177da7f8170d (scored 0) - Bradley Locker on Carson Wentz: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a3716f21-0488-4fc8-a414-c25c2d781a6e (scored 100) --- 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=eric-crocker-2