John Shipley· Sep 4, 2026
Shipley expects Travis Hunter to open the season as a starting cornerback opposite Montaric Brown, playing more snaps at corner than receiver. He also sees Wyatt Milum as a backup offensive lineman who could serve as the Week 1 swing tackle, and Emmanuel Pregnon and Ezra Cleveland holding the starting guard spots with Cole Van Lanen possibly starting at right tackle. He expects LeQuint Allen Jr. to miss the opener.
“Hunter will be locked and ready to go at the starting cornerback spot opposite of Montaric Brown when the Cleveland Browns visit in nine days.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
7 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls, 1 roster spot call and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Travis Hunter · 2026 season4 calls from 3 pundits between 1 and 3. John Shipley said 1. the room's median is 1. 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
7 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.
LeQuint Allen Jr. to make the roster
“It seems like LeQuint Allen Jr. will most likely miss the game”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Parker Washington to move to Jacksonville Jaguars
“Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said this week the Jaguars would be open to negotiating a deal with fourth-year wide receiver Parker Washington during the season... Secondly, it says the Jaguars are okay with not having Washington signed to a new deal as quickly as Week 1.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Wyatt Milum to be 2nd on the depth chart
“That means Milum is entering the year as a backup, just like he did as a rookie a year ago.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Travis Hunter to be 1st on the depth chart
“Hunter will be locked and ready to go at the starting cornerback spot opposite of Montaric Brown when the Cleveland Browns visit in nine days.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Montaric Brown to be 1st on the depth chart
“Hunter will be locked and ready to go at the starting cornerback spot opposite of Montaric Brown”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Emmanuel Pregnon to be 1st on the depth chart
“the Jaguars seem to have got a good thing going with Emmanuel Pregnon at left guard and Ezra Cleveland at right guard”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ezra Cleveland to be 1st on the depth chart
“the Jaguars seem to have got a good thing going with Emmanuel Pregnon at left guard and Ezra Cleveland at right guard”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Jared DubinDepth Chart Calls · Daniel FaaleleMiss · 0Dubin grades the Faalele trade, predicting Faalele has a decent chance to be Jacksonville's Week 1 starting right guard in competition with Wyatt Milum, and that Evan Neal's odds of making the Giants' 53-man roster improved while Jon Runyan and Francis Mauigoa hold the Giants' starting guard jobs.
- Tyler SullivanGame Outcome Picks · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 100Sullivan takes the Jaguars to beat the Browns, doubting Deshaun Watson, and takes the Eagles over the Commanders at home.
- Pat McAfeeGame Outcome Picks · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 100In the show's weekly picks segment Pat took the Steelers at home over Atlanta, the Jaguars over Cleveland, the Raiders over Miami, the Packers at Minnesota and the Cowboys over the Giants.
- Kirk HerbstreitGame Outcome Picks · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 100Herbstreit made a full slate of Week 1 picks — Lions, Ravens, Bears, Bills, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles, Packers and Cowboys — and also said he still thinks Seattle is the team to beat in the NFC West.
- Shanna McCarristonGame Outcome Picks · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 100The unsigned piece picks the Jaguars to beat the Browns 30-10 at home, citing Jacksonville's strong defense against Cleveland's weak offense. It also notes Shedeur Sanders is likely to see the field at some point this season and that Travis Hunter could be in the Comeback Player of the Year conversation.
- Nick ShookScore Predictions · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 93Shook makes three ATS picks — Steelers -3.5 over Atlanta, Jaguars -8.5 over Cleveland, Cowboys -2.5 at the Giants — plus a fourth stashed pick on Houston. He gives score predictions of Jaguars 30-9 and Cowboys by 15, and says the Steelers win by 7-10.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona.
- Ralph VacchianoDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy.
- Steven RuizDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier.
- Mike FlorioDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3.