Jeremy Brener· Aug 16, 2026
Brener argues the Seahawks' backup quarterback battle is now tilting decisively toward Drew Lock after the preseason opener, with Jalen Milroe falling behind in the competition.
“Milroe... will try to bounce back, but he's dug himself a big hole in the backup quarterback contest after this game.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
2 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls — 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.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 1.
Where this call stands in the room
Drew Lock · 2026 season12 calls from 11 pundits between 1 and 2. Jeremy Brener said 2. 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.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
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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.
- Depth Chart CallsDrew LockSeattle SeahawksAug 16, 2026
Drew Lock to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Meanwhile, Lock led the offense on an opening drive touchdown, showcasing a lot of poise as an eight-year veteran. Milroe... has dug himself a big hole in the backup quarterback contest after this game.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJalen MilroeSeattle SeahawksAug 16, 2026
Jalen Milroe to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Milroe, who completed 5 of 8 passes for 36 yards, will try to bounce back, but he's dug himself a big hole in the backup quarterback contest after this game.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- Michael HanichDepth Chart Calls · Bud ClarkMiss · 0Hanich suggests Nick Emmanwori may miss Week 1 after ankle surgery, and that Noah Igbinoghene is making a strong case to be the Seahawks' Week 1 starting nickel, with Bud Clark also possibly stepping into a starting role if Emmanwori is out.
- Richard ShermanScore Predictions · Seattle SeahawksHit · 81Sherman picked Seattle to beat New England 28-17 in the opener, ran through score picks for the rest of the week one slate (49ers, Cowboys, Bills, Bears, Vikings, Colts, Broncos), said the Seahawks would also beat the Cardinals, Commanders and Chargers, backed Dallas to win its division, and predicted Christian Gonzalez's deal would come in barely above Devon Witherspoon's.
- Anthony “Tone Diggs” DiGuilioGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Tone picked the Seahawks to beat the Patriots in the Thursday-night season opener, citing Seattle's returning front seven and offensive line snaps.
- Ty SchmitGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Ty Schmidt also leaned Seahawks over Patriots in the opener, pointing to Seattle returning 20 of 22 Super Bowl starters and a raucous banner night.
- AJ HawkGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100AJ Hawk picked the Seahawks to win the opener at home over the Patriots.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- 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.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies.