Donnie Druin· Aug 12, 2026
Druin names six under-the-radar Cardinals who boosted their stock in training camp and could make the final 53-man roster, with rookie tackle Jayden Williams described as having secured a spot outright. He also predicts Arizona will rank near the top of the league in tight end usage in 12/13 personnel and that Bam Knight has passed Trey Benson in the running back pecking order.
“Williams undoubtedly has secured his spot on the final 53 thanks to strong play we saw on his tape from Ole Miss.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
7 checkable claims — 6 roster spot calls and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
4 of 7 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 75 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room.
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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.
- Roster Spot CallsBam KnightArizona CardinalsAug 12, 2026
Bam Knight to make the roster
“RB Bam Knight — Why he can make the roster: ... Arizona does plan to run the ball, often, and that could pave the way for Knight.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- ARI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- b3bad395-33b1-4a05-9f32-534551035bbc
- 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
Jayden Williams to make the roster
“Williams undoubtedly has secured his spot on the final 53 thanks to strong play we saw on his tape from Ole Miss.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- ARI
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- 75460379-8835-4e7a-844e-bb7a98dab158
- 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
- Roster Spot CallsJalen BrooksArizona CardinalsAug 12, 2026
Jalen Brooks to make the roster
“Brooks has also turned up his performances during camp, putting him close to Smith-Marsette in conversations to make the final roster.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- ARI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 0f50a969-06dc-4d3e-86aa-2c367f1da041
- 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
- Roster Spot CallsEku LeotaArizona CardinalsAug 12, 2026
Eku Leota to make the roster
“Leota still needs to perform in preseason, but with BJ Ojulari's stock trending down, this could be one of the biggest surprises on the roster.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- ARI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 65ecb1f0-49bb-4266-9b8e-6082f69824d2
- 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
- Depth Chart CallsBam KnightArizona CardinalsAug 12, 2026
Bam Knight to be 4th on the depth chart
“can see him in a nice supporting role behind Arizona's trio of Jeremiyah Love, Tyler Allgeier and Trey Benson.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette to make the roster
“If the Cardinals keep a sixth receiver, he's heavily in the conversation.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Teagan Quitoriano to make the roster
“TE Teagan Quitoriano — Why he can make the roster: ... Quitoriano's specialization in run blocking could give him a leg-up over his other counterparts hoping to squeeze onto the roster.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Henry McKennaDepth Chart Calls · Carson BeckMiss · 0McKenna predicts Kyler Murray will win the Vikings' starting QB job over J.J. McCarthy, that Minnesota will make the playoffs if Murray cuts out the hero ball, that both QBs will play in 2026, and wonders whether rookie Carson Beck could unseat Jacoby Brissett as Arizona's Week 1 starter.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Reggie VirgilHit · 100PFF's preseason usage recap makes a number of depth-chart and roster projections, including nine rookie receivers slotting as top-three options on their teams, sleeper tight end usage, and specific depth-chart placements for Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens players.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Reggie VirgilHit · 100An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Reggie VirgilHit · 100PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Bam KnightHit · 100PFF'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.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Reggie VirgilHit · 100PFF's preseason recap projects Xavier Legette as the clear No. 3 receiver in Carolina after Chris Brazzell II's season-ending injury, doubts Jimmy Horn Jr. makes the 53-man roster, expects Ja'Tavion Sanders' role to shrink (with Mitchell Evans ahead of him), and sees Bam Knight as a candidate for Arizona's RB3 job.
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.